Word to the Wise
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 - Wednesday in the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jer 31:1-7 and Matt 15:21-28]And behold, a Canaanite woman came and called out, "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me." He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She said, Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters." Then Jesus said to her in reply, "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 community to which the evangelist Matthew addressed his gospel portrait of Jesus was predominantly Jewish. They were just beginning to wrestle with the question of non-Jewish converts or even with a mission to non-Jewish people! St. Paul's mission to Gentiles was already widespread in the Mediterranean region by the time this gospel was composed. St. Paul was martyred around 63/64 AD and this gospel is dated by scholars to around 70 AD. The story of the Canaanite woman reflects the growing attitude that Gentiles are not excluded from God's providence.
What always concerns me is the attitude of the disciples who want Jesus to send the woman away "because she keeps calling out after us." It is the persistent faith of the woman that captures Jesus' attention and obtains for her the mercy she was seeking for her daughter. It is true that Jesus tests her faith but the test may have been for the disciples to learn from rather than the woman's faith, or so it seems to me!
This can be a difficult pastoral challenge. Often at weddings and funerals a statement is made about receiving communion by those who are not Catholics! In a sense, this is equivalent to Jesus' statement to the woman! We can ask that people cross their arms and ask for a blessing, but this is not always heard. And one cannot interrogate each person who comes up! Sometimes one must give the Lord to the person standing in front of one and pray the Lord will take care of the rest. The Canaanite woman is alive in our midst! AMEN