Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 - Wednesday in the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
[Num 13:1-2, 25—14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35 and Matt 15:21-28,1033]O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish" And her daughter was healed from that hour. [Matthew]
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2023 WEDNESDAY IN THE 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
[Numbers 13:1-2, 25-14:1, 26a-29a, 34-35 and Matthew 15:21-28]
"O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour. [Matthew]
The dialogue between Jesus and the Canaanite woman reflects the situation in the community at the time of the composition of the Gospel According to Matthew. The primary audience for that gospel was a Jewish-Christian community. They may well have felt that they had a monopoly on Jesus. The disciples make an interesting complaint: "Send her away, for she keeps calling after US." Jesus and the Canaanite woman then address that situation. Anyone who comes in faith will be received by the Lord, and not just Jews.
There is a danger in feeling as if WE Catholics are the only authorized believers. Smugness can be the result. Pope Francis has consistently urged us to "go to the "peripheries" and not to be "self-referential." We can always be a welcoming community, even if we need to be a discerning community and ask the seeker about their faith. Who, indeed, is "calling after us?" AMEN