August 20, 2023

Sister Jan Ginzkey, OSB shares a reflection on the scripture readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13–15, 29 – 32; Matthew 15:21–28

The three readings today have an underground stream of thought connecting them. Who belongs? Is one tribe or one ethnic group special or superior? Who decides? Why are some assumed to be the “IN crowd” while others are pushed to the margins?

The Israelites were God’s chosen people. God had made a covenant with them. They considered themselves favored and above all the other nations. Anyone not an Israelite was a foreigner. In the first reading Isaiah speaks God’s message. The foreigners who

love God will be brought to the temple on God’s holy mountain. The foreigner will joyfully enter for God’s house is for all people.

Paul claims the privileges of being a Roman citizen. The Romans were the rulers, the superior class who dictated societal systems. Paul  was also a Pharisee, one of the ruling classes of the Jews. Paul is speaking to the gentiles, the foreigners, and I imagine not all of them were Roman citizens. Why is Paul bothering to speak to gentiles?

Paul is preaching to the gentiles so that they could come to know of Jesus and God’s great mercy. These foreigners were joyfully welcomed into God’s love.  Another reason,

Paul says, is to make the Israelites so jealous of God’s mercy and acceptance of the gentiles, that they too would want to experience the abundance of God’s love that flows freely to even the foreigner, to the marginalized.

Matthew’s Gospel startles us by Jesus’ harsh words and refusal to respond to the Canaanite woman’s plea for mercy for her daughter. Was Jesus having a bad day?

Was he giving the expected societal response? After all, this was a woman. Society disapproved of a woman talking to a man not in her family. Besides, she was a Canaanite, a scorned foreigner and enemy who was not welcomed in Jewish society.

The woman’s love for her daughter gave her the courage to break through the societal barriers and boldly ask Jesus to heal her daughter. She had heard of the healing and miracles Jesus had performed. She believed her daughter deserved Jesus’ mercy and healing.

Jesus at first refused to even see her. The apostles tried to send her away. She refused to be ignored and asked again. Jesus told her that he was only to serve the lost sheep of Israel. She begged again. Jesus insulted her by comparing her to a dog. With wit and determination, the woman confronted Jesus saying, “Even dogs eat the scraps that fall from the master’s table.” With that response Jesus finally got the message. God’s love and mercy were for everyone even a Canaanite woman. He gave her a great compliment, “O woman, great is your faith!” Her persistence and faith allowed Jesus the opportunity to grow. He was able to heal her daughter at a distance.

Last week’s Gospel had Jesus chide Peter who was the first apostle. “O you of little faith why did you doubt?” Peter’s fear of the storm overcame his faith in Jesus. Yet this foreigner and a woman receives Jesus’ praise for her persistent faith.

What are these readings saying to us today? All media seems to highlight the divisions in our society and our world. Isaiah reminds us that all are welcome in God’s house. Paul tells us that we are all blessed and need to be open to God’s love and mercy, not just Jews or Catholics or Christians but even the Muslem, the atheist, and the people our society considers undesirable.

In the Gospel, the Canaanite woman’s faith and determination opens Jesus’ heart and mind to realize His mission is to reach beyond the societal norms of that time. Can our faith allow us as individuals, a worshiping community, even as a nation to extend a welcome and blessing on the immigrants and the refugees? Can our faith allow us, who still have comfortable lifestyles, to open our eyes to those who are disproportionately burdened by the environmental impact of our changing climate?

Let us pray to deepen our faith so that our actions and words reflect God’s abundant loving acceptance of all people and creation.