21 Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 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.” 24 He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” 28 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. (Matt 15:21-28)
JESUS AT THE MARGINS
To decentralize and go to the margins: this we have found in the programs and platforms of not a few people who lead or who seek to lead. In our days, stability is found in strengthening not the center but the peripheries. Pope Francis, in the first years of his pontificate, sought to bring this mentality to the Church. In one homily, after having appointed new cardinals, he said: “We will not find the Lord unless we truly accept the marginalized! Truly the Gospel of the marginalized is where our credibility is at stake, where it is found, and where it is revealed.”
In our gospel, Jesus goes to the peripheries, Tyre and Sidon, where he encounters the Canaanite woman, a marginalized person. The woman was asking a “long distance miracle,” that her daughter (who was not there) be delivered from a demon that was tormenting her. In this episode, the situation is interesting. The woman was shouting but Jesus was not responding. The disciples, who could not stand her, pleaded with Jesus to give what she wants. The woman, even though a non-Jew, knew who Jesus was and was well aware of the wonders that he could do. The disciples looked only at their convenience in wishing that her prayer be heard. Jesus did not respond—initially, perhaps to teach a lesson out of this occasion.
Jesus made the statement that emphasized the priority of his mission: the House of Israel. He used the metaphor (more endearing rather than insulting) that helping her was akin to taking the children’s food and throwing it to puppies. She bravely responded to Jesus’ statement following up the metaphor, that non-Jews were also entitled to the scraps from what Jesus gave. Her answer was praised by Jesus who affirmed her faith and cured her daughter.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. A quality of Jesus in the gospel reading is his mercy and kindness extending to those in the margins. How do I make this quality my own?
2. Does my faith make me persistent in my prayer to God?
Lord, like the Canaanite woman, I plead to you to grant the petitions that are in my heart. Make my faith strong like hers.
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