20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
Sunday, August 20, 2023
Jesus’ initial reaction in today’s Gospel can be puzzling, maybe even troubling for us to read. The Canaanite woman respectfully asks Jesus to have pity on her and to deliver her daughter from a demon that was tormenting her. What does Jesus say in response as recorded in Matthew’s Gospel? “Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.”, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”, and “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” (Matthew 15:23, 24 and 26).
What is going on and why did Jesus respond the way he did?
The people of Israel were chosen by God. But God did not choose them and reject the rest of the world. God loved all the people of the world and chose the sons of Jacob to bring salvation to all.
Jesus came to first gather the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Later, after His resurrection, He commissions His apostles to go to all nations to preach the Good News and to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God’s salvation was first given to His chosen people then through them to the rest of the people of the world. “I have complete confidence in the gospel; it is God’s power to save all who believe, first the Jews and also the Gentiles.” (Romans 1:16)
Canaanites were gentiles, not Jews. When God delivered His people out of Egypt, He took them to the land of Canaan. The Canaanites were brutal, idolatrous people who sacrificed their own children to demons and had a history of being the enemy of Israel. At the time Jesus encountered the Canaanite woman, He emphasized calling of the people of Israel.
Jesus called the woman a dog. In this instance, it was His way of referring to sinners and unclean people calling the Israelites children and the unclean gentiles dogs. He followed the order revealed in Romans 1:16, “First you feed the children then the dog.”
Jesus does ignore the woman’s plea for mercy, but He does not send her away as the disciples ask of Him. The woman does not leave and continues to ask Jesus to help her, and Jesus finally answers her plea: ”O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” (Matthew 15:28).
In this story, the Canaanite woman embodies us all, the people of all nations. Let us in turn use her example of faith and persistence to preach the Good News of God’s love and salvation.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.