Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 118
Lectionary: 118
Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.
The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him,
loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants—
all who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
for my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.
The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him,
loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants—
all who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
for my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.
Responsorial Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
R/ (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R/ O God, let all the nations praise you!
Reading 2ROM 11:13-15, 29-32
Brothers and
sisters:
I am speaking to you Gentiles.
Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,
I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous
and thus save some of them.
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.
I am speaking to you Gentiles.
Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,
I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous
and thus save some of them.
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.
Gospel MT 15:21-28
At that time, Jesus
withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
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.”
But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus’ 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 Jesus 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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
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.”
But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus’ 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 Jesus 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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.
Scripture Study – Aug.
17, 2014
August 17, 2014
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This weekend we celebrate the Twentieth Sunday
in Ordinary Time. The readings ask us to consider the openness and
boundlessness of God’s love and compare it to the ungenerous and restricted
nature of our own love and concern for others. The obvious questions that come
to mind are: How well do I reflect God’s universal love for all? How well do I
connect with those who are different from me and my immediate circle of family
and friends in some respect (nationality, religious faith, language, etc.?
First Reading: Isaiah 56: 1, 6-7
1 Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.
6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering
to him, Loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants–
All who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
and becoming his servants–
All who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
7 Them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
Their holocausts and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
For my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
Their holocausts and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
For my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.
NOTES on First Reading:
*56:1-7 This section of Isaiah promises a
share in the coming messianic salvation to all who believe in the Lord and keep
His commandments regardless of origin or social condition and status.
* 56:2-3 Foreigners and eunuchs were among
those who were originally excluded from the community of the Lord and thought
to be excluded from the messianic banquet. Trito-Isaiah follows the
universalist ideas expressed in Ruth and Jonah rather than the much narrower
view expressed in Ezra chapters 9-10 and in Obadiah. Trito-Isaiah (that is
Third Isaiah, Chapters 56-66) urges the readmission of eunuchs to the company
of God’s people. See Wisdom 3:14.
* 56:5 The words translated here as “monument
and name” are literally “hand and name” as in 1 Sam 15:12.
* 56:6 Not being of the tribe of Levi,
foreigners were, of course excluded from Temple ministry. Here the Lord seems
to be allowing a broader participation in ministry than was permitted under the
rules of the Sinai covenant.
Second Reading: Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am
the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry 14 in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of
them. 15 For if their rejection is the
reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the
dead?
29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
30 Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may (now) receive mercy. 32 For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.
29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
30 Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may (now) receive mercy. 32 For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 11:13-15 Paul addresses the Gentiles as
God#39;s particular ambassador to them which he sees as a special grace through
Christ. Paul, although deeply concerned for the spiritual well-being of the
Gentiles, still identifies with and loves his own people, the Jews. He insists
that the Gentiles are not to look down upon the Jews who have refused to
believe but rather that just as the rejection of Jesus has led to the
Gentile#39;s reception of Christ#39;s word so the ministry to the Gentiles may
spur the Jews to belief. He foresees a dramatic effect resulting from the
Jewish final acceptance of Christ although he knows not how it will be
affected.
* 11:29 Here Paul looks at the relationship
between the Jewish people and God and what it may mean to the Gentiles. He
begins by reminding the readers that God is not fickle. He does not change His
mind with every new thought. When God made the Jews His chosen people he did so
for all time. Even though the people broke the covenant and were unfaithful,
God must always remain faithful to His covenant and His promises.
* 11:30-32 The Jewish view of Gentiles was
that they were guilty of disobedience in that they did not believe in the God
of Israel. Paul sees the Jews as being guilty of the same sort of disobedience
in refusing to believe in Jesus. The Gentiles were afforded the opportunity to
believe by the Jewish failure to do so. Thus God forgives both the Jew and the
Gentile of the same disobedience and pours out His mercy on all for all have
been guilty.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 15: 21-28
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.” 23But 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.
NOTES on Gospel Reading:
* 15:21-28 A parallel of this story is found
in Mark 7:24-30. Mark#39;s version has a little less emphasis on the dialogue
and a little more emphasis on the miracle itself.
* 15:22 Matthew calls the woman a “Canaanite”
which is an archaic biblical term instead of using Mark#39;s more familiar (at
the time) term, “Syrophoenician.” Perhaps Matthew wishes to establish a connection
with Mt 1:5. In any case she has two strikes against her to begin with; she is
a woman alone in a man#39;s world and she is a Gentile and therefore unclean in
the eyes of the Jews among whom she lives. In spite of her being an outsider,
she recognizes Jesus and with extraordinary faith calls Him by a Messianic
title (Son of David).
* 15:23 Jesus#39; silence is explained in the
next verse where He does not wish to exceed His Divine mission.
* 15:24 This verse expresses the traditional
perspective of Jesus#39; mission and the policy of Jesus during His ministry
although He allows numerous exceptions. His mission was seen as the gathering
of all Israel in preparation for the end time events in contrast to Mt 28:19.
See also Mt 23:37-39 and Luke 13:34-35.
* 15:25 Matthew uses the same word for Lord in
the woman#39;s address to Jesus that the Septuagint (ancient Greek translation
of Old Testament) uses for God.
* 15:26 Matthew makes the response by Jesus
even harsher than it is in Mark by removing the softening statement in Mark
7:27. This may be the result of a (then recent) past church history of
evangelization to the Jews first and then the Gentiles. See Rom 1:16.
Jews of that time often used the words, dog
and swine, as terms of contempt for Gentiles. Later the same words were applied
by early Christians to an obstinately impenitent fellow Christian. Here Jesus
softens the traditional language a little by using a diminutive form of the
word for dog that actually refers to a puppy dog or a pet dog.
* 15:27 The woman seizes the image used by
Jesus and quickly turns it to her advantage.
* 15:28 The woman#39;s humility, wit, good
humor and, above all, her extraordinary faith cause Jesus to grant her request
so that her daughter is delivered. Here, the woman’s faith breaks down the
centuries old barrier between Jew and Gentile. In Matthew#39;s Gospel she is
the only one who is said to have great faith.
Matthew is much more clear about the role of
faith in Jesus#39; granting her request than is the parallel version in Mark.
Meditation: "Great is your faith! Be it done for you as you
desire"
Do you ever feel "put-off" or ignored by the
Lord?
This passage (Matthew 15:21) describes the only occasion in which Jesus ministered outside of Jewish territory. (Tyre and Sidon were fifty miles north of Israel and still exist today in modern Lebanon.) A Gentile woman, a foreigner who was not a member of the Jewish people, puts Jesus on the spot by pleading for his help. At first Jesus seemed to pay no attention to her, and this made his disciples feel embarrassed. Jesus does this to test the woman to awaken faith in her.
This passage (Matthew 15:21) describes the only occasion in which Jesus ministered outside of Jewish territory. (Tyre and Sidon were fifty miles north of Israel and still exist today in modern Lebanon.) A Gentile woman, a foreigner who was not a member of the Jewish people, puts Jesus on the spot by pleading for his help. At first Jesus seemed to pay no attention to her, and this made his disciples feel embarrassed. Jesus does this to test the woman to awaken faith in her.
Jesus first tests the woman's faith
What did Jesus mean by the expression "throwing bread to the dogs"? The Jews often spoke of the Gentiles with arrogance and insolence as "unclean dogs" since the Gentiles did not follow God's law and were excluded from God's covenant and favor with the people of Israel. For the Greeks the "dog" was a symbol of dishonor and was used to describe a shameless and audacious woman. There is another reference to "dogs" in Matthew's Gospel where Jesus says to his disciples, "Do not give to dogs what is holy" (Matthew 7:6). Jesus tests this woman's faith to see if she is earnest in receiving holy things from the hand of a holy God. Jesus, no doubt, spoke with a smile rather than with an insult because this woman immediately responds with wit and faith - "even the dogs eat the crumbs".
What did Jesus mean by the expression "throwing bread to the dogs"? The Jews often spoke of the Gentiles with arrogance and insolence as "unclean dogs" since the Gentiles did not follow God's law and were excluded from God's covenant and favor with the people of Israel. For the Greeks the "dog" was a symbol of dishonor and was used to describe a shameless and audacious woman. There is another reference to "dogs" in Matthew's Gospel where Jesus says to his disciples, "Do not give to dogs what is holy" (Matthew 7:6). Jesus tests this woman's faith to see if she is earnest in receiving holy things from the hand of a holy God. Jesus, no doubt, spoke with a smile rather than with an insult because this woman immediately responds with wit and faith - "even the dogs eat the crumbs".
Seek the Lord Jesus with expectant faith
Jesus praises a Gentile woman for her faith and for her love. She made the misery of her child her own and she was willing to suffer rebuff in order to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence. Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one who ever sought Jesus with earnest faith - whether Jew or Gentile - was refused his help. Do you seek the Lord Jesus with expectant faith?
Jesus praises a Gentile woman for her faith and for her love. She made the misery of her child her own and she was willing to suffer rebuff in order to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence. Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one who ever sought Jesus with earnest faith - whether Jew or Gentile - was refused his help. Do you seek the Lord Jesus with expectant faith?
"Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I
trust you always and pursue you with indomitable persistence as this woman did.
Increase my faith in your saving power and deliver me for all evil and harm.
"
Ask and You Shall Receive
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August 17, 2014. Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre
and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started
shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is
tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his
disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps
shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying,
"Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the
children´s food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord,
yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters´ table."
Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for
you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Introductory Prayer: I believe in you, my God. You called me into existence
from nothingness and carefully watch over me. You have even numbered the
hairs of my head. I trust in your infinite goodness, and I abandon into your
loving hands my fears, my hopes, my needs, my desires, everything. I love
you, Lord, and I wish to love you with all my mind, heart, soul and strength.
Petition: Lord, grant that these moments of conversation will
build my trust in you.
1. Bold Prayer: We are often timid and bashful in asking others for what
we need when we assume that we will be “putting them out” with our request.
We put ourselves in their place and think, “I don’t want to be a bother to
them.” But Christ wants us to be bold in prayer! What does it “cost” God to
grant us his grace? More than what he has already freely given us — his Son?
To think that we are “bothering” God when we ask him for things is to pray to
a distant and unfamiliar God. Did not Christ guarantee us that if we asked
the Father (“Abba”, “Daddy”) for anything in his name, it would be granted?
The Canaanite woman’s loud pleas were not bothering Christ in the least. How
different Christ’s reactions are to ours, which are so often like those of
his disciples!
2. Prayer Unanswered? It is difficult to humble ourselves and admit that we
need help, that we can’t completely take care of ourselves. Our pride and
human respect often keep us from asking for what we need. The Canaanite woman
didn’t seem to mind: she presented herself before Christ and others as a
beggar. Now the Gospel text records, “But he did not answer her at all.” One
might think Christ responded to her act of humility with a rather cold, even
degrading reception. Was Christ being insensitive? Of course not! He knew how
strong this woman’s faith was, and he put it to the test precisely so that
others throughout the centuries could marvel at her simple faith. There are
often many hidden reasons why Christ doesn’t readily answer our prayers. Let
us return to Christ humbly, with faith and hope, when we feel slighted or
ignored by him.
3. Efficacious Prayer: An efficacious prayer is a humble
prayer. We are super-sensitive when we are hurt. This Canaanite woman was
already very hurt by the condition of her daughter and the scolding of the
disciples. Had she not had such simple faith and hope, Christ’s words to her
could have been enough to send her “over the top.” When we are hurt, we
easily jump to conclusions and become offended. Once our pride is injured, we
are often blind to the good someone wishes us or performs for us. How many
souls have spent long years away from Christ because they have clung to past
hurts and been blinded to God’s often mysterious pedagogy?
Conversation with Christ: Dear Jesus, too often I have given up
on prayer without really trying, convinced that you don’t listen to me. I am
sorry for judging you. Help me persevere in asking you for the good things I need.
Help me overcome any shame or human respect, so that I can increase my faith,
hope and love for you.
Resolution: I will meditate on an “unanswered” prayer in my life,
trying to understand how Christ could have answered it in an unexpected, yet
superior way.
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TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, AUGUST 17
MATTHEW 15:21-28
(Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32)
KEY VERSE: "My mission is only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (v 24).
READING: Although Matthew emphasized Jesus' mission as primarily to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (v 24), he intended to show that God's call had widened to include all people. In anticipation of the Church's mission to the gentiles, Matthew showed Jesus breaking with his custom of ministering only to his own people. In the pagan area of Phoenicia, Jesus met a woman whose faith contrasted with that of the Pharisees and Scribes who opposed him. Matthew called her a Canaanite to remind his readers that these people occupied the Promised Land before the Hebrew people settled it. The woman addressed Jesus by the messianic titles "Lord" and "Son of God" as she pleaded with him to heal her tormented daughter. When the disciples tried to get rid of her, the woman persisted, saying she was willing to take the crumbs that fell from the master's table. Impressed by this woman's great faith, Jesus healed her daughter that very moment. The Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christians (Nostra Aetate, "In this Age of Ours") states: "The Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all people will address the Lord in a single voice and serve him with one accord" (# 4).
REFLECTING: Do I respect the beliefs of those outside my community of faith?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to imitate your example of listening to other people's views.
MATTHEW 15:21-28
(Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32)
KEY VERSE: "My mission is only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (v 24).
READING: Although Matthew emphasized Jesus' mission as primarily to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" (v 24), he intended to show that God's call had widened to include all people. In anticipation of the Church's mission to the gentiles, Matthew showed Jesus breaking with his custom of ministering only to his own people. In the pagan area of Phoenicia, Jesus met a woman whose faith contrasted with that of the Pharisees and Scribes who opposed him. Matthew called her a Canaanite to remind his readers that these people occupied the Promised Land before the Hebrew people settled it. The woman addressed Jesus by the messianic titles "Lord" and "Son of God" as she pleaded with him to heal her tormented daughter. When the disciples tried to get rid of her, the woman persisted, saying she was willing to take the crumbs that fell from the master's table. Impressed by this woman's great faith, Jesus healed her daughter that very moment. The Second Vatican Council's Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christians (Nostra Aetate, "In this Age of Ours") states: "The Church awaits that day, known to God alone, on which all people will address the Lord in a single voice and serve him with one accord" (# 4).
REFLECTING: Do I respect the beliefs of those outside my community of faith?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, help me to imitate your example of listening to other people's views.
O God, let all the nations praise
you!
While Jesus’ response to her request appears harsh, it invites a wonderful riposte from the woman that reveals the depth of her faith in Jesus’ ability to heal—even the scraps from the children’s table are sufficient for healing. As a Gentile, her faith-filled petition is even more significant in that it contrasts the lack of faith Jesus encounters among the house of Israel. The faith of Gentiles such as this woman is a precursor to the spread of the Christian faith across the world after Pentecost. There are no barriers to faith in Christ. Attempts to restrict membership of the church to a few runs contrary to the operation of the Holy Spirit. The only requirement for membership is faith.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
The Light of Christ
During those times, when we are most humbled and most in need, the
light of Christ beckons to us in our darkness and, like a lighthouse in a
storm, guides us safely to shore.
August
17
St. Joan of the Cross
(1666-1736)
St. Joan of the Cross
(1666-1736)
An encounter with a shabby old woman many dismissed as insane
prompted St. Joan to dedicate her life to the poor. For Joan, who had a
reputation as a businesswoman intent on monetary success, this was a
significant conversion.
Born in
1666 in Anjou, France, Joan worked in the family business—a small shop near a
religious shrine—from an early age. After her parents’ death she took over the
shop herself. She quickly became known for her greediness and insensitivity to
the beggars who often came seeking help.
That was
until she was touched by the strange woman who claimed she was on intimate
terms with the deity. Joan, who had always been devout, even scrupulous, became
a new person. She began caring for needy children. Then the poor, elderly and
sick came to her. Over time she closed the family business so she could devote
herself fully to good works and penance.
She went
on to found what came to be known as the Congregation of St. Anne of
Providence. It was then she took the religious name of Joan of the Cross. By
the time of her death in 1736 she had founded 12 religious houses, hospices and
schools. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1982.
Comment:
The downtown areas of most major cities hold a population of “street people.” Well-dressed folks usually avoid making eye contact, probably for fear of being asked for a handout. That was Joan’s attitude until the day one of them touched her heart. Most people thought the old woman was crazy, but she put Joan on the road to sainthood. Who knows what the next beggar we meet might do for us?
The downtown areas of most major cities hold a population of “street people.” Well-dressed folks usually avoid making eye contact, probably for fear of being asked for a handout. That was Joan’s attitude until the day one of them touched her heart. Most people thought the old woman was crazy, but she put Joan on the road to sainthood. Who knows what the next beggar we meet might do for us?
LECTIO DIVINA:
20TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (A)
Lectio:
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Welcoming the excluded
The Canaanite woman helps Jesus
discover the will of the Father
Matthew 15: 21-28
The Canaanite woman helps Jesus
discover the will of the Father
Matthew 15: 21-28
1. Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures
with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In
the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the
presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the
cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life
and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to guide the reading:
In today’s text, Jesus meets a foreign woman, something forbidden by the religion of that time. At first Jesus would not pay attention to her, but the woman insisted and got what she wanted. This text helps us to understand how Jesus went about knowing and putting into practice the will of God.
In today’s text, Jesus meets a foreign woman, something forbidden by the religion of that time. At first Jesus would not pay attention to her, but the woman insisted and got what she wanted. This text helps us to understand how Jesus went about knowing and putting into practice the will of God.
b) A division of the text to help with the reading:
Mt 15:
21-22: The pained cry of the woman
Mt 15: 23-24: The strange silence of Jesus and the reaction of the disciples
Mt 15: 25-26: The repeated request of the woman and Jesus’ renewed refusal
Mt 15: 27-28: The third try of the woman who obtains the healing of her daughter.
Mt 15: 23-24: The strange silence of Jesus and the reaction of the disciples
Mt 15: 25-26: The repeated request of the woman and Jesus’ renewed refusal
Mt 15: 27-28: The third try of the woman who obtains the healing of her daughter.
c) The
text:
21-22: Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And suddenly out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, 'Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.'
23-24: But he said not a word in answer to her. And his disciples went and pleaded with him, saying, 'Give her what she wants, because she keeps shouting after us.' He said in reply, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.'
25-26: But the woman had come up and was bowing low before him. 'Lord,' she said, 'help me.' He replied, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to little dogs.'
27-28: She retorted, 'Ah yes, Lord; but even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, you have great faith. Let your desire be granted.' And from that moment her daughter was well again.
21-22: Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And suddenly out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, 'Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.'
23-24: But he said not a word in answer to her. And his disciples went and pleaded with him, saying, 'Give her what she wants, because she keeps shouting after us.' He said in reply, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.'
25-26: But the woman had come up and was bowing low before him. 'Lord,' she said, 'help me.' He replied, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to little dogs.'
27-28: She retorted, 'Ah yes, Lord; but even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table.' Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, you have great faith. Let your desire be granted.' And from that moment her daughter was well again.
3. A
moment of prayerful silence
so that
the Word of God may enter into us and enlighten our life.
4. Some
questions
to help
us in our personal reflection.
a) What
caught my attention most and pleased me most in this episode?
b) Four characters appear in the text: the woman, the daughter, the disciples and Jesus. What does the text say about each one’s attitude? With which of the four do you identify yourself most? Why?
c) Jesus says that his mission does not permit him to listen to the woman’s request. But soon after he grants her request. How do you explain this sudden change in Jesus’ attitude?
d) How did the woman’s reply concerning the dogs and the scraps influence Jesus?
e) Why do those words reveal the woman’s great faith?
f) How can Jesus’ words help our community to grow in faith?
b) Four characters appear in the text: the woman, the daughter, the disciples and Jesus. What does the text say about each one’s attitude? With which of the four do you identify yourself most? Why?
c) Jesus says that his mission does not permit him to listen to the woman’s request. But soon after he grants her request. How do you explain this sudden change in Jesus’ attitude?
d) How did the woman’s reply concerning the dogs and the scraps influence Jesus?
e) Why do those words reveal the woman’s great faith?
f) How can Jesus’ words help our community to grow in faith?
5. A
key to the reading
for
those who wish to go deeper into the text.
a) The
context within which Matthew preserves the words of Jesus:
*
Matthew’s Gospel, written about 85 AD, is addressed to a community of pious and
observant Jews, converted to faith in Jesus. After Jesus’ example, they
continued to live according to the traditions of the Jewish people, observing
the Law of Moses in its fullness. But now in the 80s they find themselves in an
ambivalent situation. After the destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD), the
Pharisees, their racial brothers, had started to reorganise Judaism, and, in
the name of fidelity to that same Law of Moses, sought to block the ever
increasing spread Christianity. They came to the point of expelling them from the
synagogues. This unforeseen hostility brought the community of Christian Jews
into deep crisis. Both the Pharisees and the Christians claimed to be faithful
to the law of God. Who was right? On whose side was God? To whom did the
inheritance of the Jewish people belong, to the synagogue or to the ecclesia?
* It is precisely to encourage and support this group of Jewish-Christians that Matthew writes his Gospel. He writes to confirm them in the faith by showing that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the culmination of the whole history of the Old Testament. He writes to strengthen them in the midst of hostility, helping them to overcome the trauma of the break with the brothers. He writes to call them to a new practice of life, showing them the way to a new form of justice, better than that of the Pharisees.
* In this context, the episode of the Canaanite woman served to show the community how this same Jesus took concrete steps to go beyond the limitations of a religion turned in on itself and how he went about discerning the will of God beyond the traditional scheme.
* It is precisely to encourage and support this group of Jewish-Christians that Matthew writes his Gospel. He writes to confirm them in the faith by showing that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the culmination of the whole history of the Old Testament. He writes to strengthen them in the midst of hostility, helping them to overcome the trauma of the break with the brothers. He writes to call them to a new practice of life, showing them the way to a new form of justice, better than that of the Pharisees.
* In this context, the episode of the Canaanite woman served to show the community how this same Jesus took concrete steps to go beyond the limitations of a religion turned in on itself and how he went about discerning the will of God beyond the traditional scheme.
b) A
commentary on the words of Jesus as preserved in Matthew:
Matthew
15: 21: Jesus moves away from the Jewish
territory.
In the discussion concerning what is pure and what is not, Jesus had taught that which was contrary to the tradition of the ancients, declaring all foods to be clean, and helped the people and the disciples free themselves of the chains of the laws on purity (Mt 15: 1-20). Now, in this episode of the Canaanite woman, he moves away from Galilee, goes beyond the frontiers of the national territory and welcomes a foreign woman who did not belong to the people and with whom it was forbidden to talk. The Gospel of Mark informs us that Jesus did not want to be known. He wanted to remain anonymous. But it is evident that his fame had already preceded him (Mk 7: 24). The people knew him and a woman begins to present him with a request.
Matthew 15: 22: The anguished cry of the woman.
The woman was from another race and religion. She begins to beg for the healing of her daughter who was possessed by an unclean spirit. The pagans had no problem having recourse to Jesus. The Jews, however, had problems co-existing with the pagans! The Law forbade them to make contact with a person of another religion or race.
Matthew 15: 23-24: The strange silence of Jesus and the reaction of the disciples.
The woman shouts, but Jesus does not respond. A strange attitude! Because, if there is one sure thing throughout the Bible, from beginning to end, it is that God always listens to the cry of the oppressed. But here Jesus does not listen. He does not want to listen. Why? Even the disciples are surprised by Jesus’ attitude and ask him to say something to the woman. They want to get rid of that shouting: "Give her what she wants, they said, because she is shouting after us".Jesus explains his silence, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel". His silence is connected with an awareness of his mission and his fidelity to the law of God. The passive form shows that the subject of the verb’s action is the Father. It is as though he had said, "The Father does not want me to listen to this woman, because He has sent me only to the lost sheep of Israel!" For the same reason, at the time of Matthew’s writing of the Gospel, the Pharisees were saying, "We cannot make contact with pagans!"
Matthew 15: 25-26: The woman repeats her request and Jesus again refuses her.
The woman is not worried by the refusal of Jesus. The love of a mother for her sick daughter does not take notice of religious rules or the reaction of other people, but seeks healing wherever her intuition leads her to a solution, namely, in Jesus! She draws closer, she throws herself at Jesus’ feet and goes on begging, "Lord, help me". Faithful to the rules of his religion, Jesus answers with a parable and says that it is not right to take the bread of one’s children and give it to dogs. The parallel is taken from everyday life. Even today, we find many children and dogs in the houses of the poor. Jesus says that no mother will take bread from the mouths of her children and give it to dogs. Concretely, the children are the Jewish people and the dogs are the pagans. End of story! Obedient to the Father and faithful to his mission, Jesus goes on his way and takes no notice of the pleading of the woman!
Matthew 15: 27-28: At the third attempt, the woman obtains the healing of her daughter.
The woman will not yield. She agrees with Jesus, but she amplifies the parallel and applies it to her case, "Ah, yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table". She simply draws the conclusion from that image, showing that in the houses of the poor (and so also in the house of Jesus) the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of the children. Most probably, Jesus himself as a young boy would have given bits of bread to dogs that roamed under the table where he ate with his parents. And in "Jesus’ house", that is, in the Christian community of Matthew’s time, at the end of the first century, there were "twelve baskets full" left over (Mt 14:20) for the "dogs", that is, for the pagans!
Jesus’ reaction is immediate, "Woman, you have great faith!" The woman got what she asked for. From that moment her daughter was healed. The reason Jesus responded was that he understood that the Father wanted him to grant the woman’s request. The meeting with the Canaanite woman freed him from the racial prison and opened him to the whole of humanity. This means that Jesus discovered the will of the Father by listening to the reactions of people. This pagan woman’s attitude opened new horizons for Jesus and helped him take an important step in the fulfilment of the Father’s plan. The gift of life and salvation is for all who seek life and who try to free themselves from the chains that bind vital energy. This episode helps us to perceive a little of the mystery that surrounded the person of Jesus, the manner in which he was in communion with the Father and how he discovered the will of the Father in the events of life.
In the discussion concerning what is pure and what is not, Jesus had taught that which was contrary to the tradition of the ancients, declaring all foods to be clean, and helped the people and the disciples free themselves of the chains of the laws on purity (Mt 15: 1-20). Now, in this episode of the Canaanite woman, he moves away from Galilee, goes beyond the frontiers of the national territory and welcomes a foreign woman who did not belong to the people and with whom it was forbidden to talk. The Gospel of Mark informs us that Jesus did not want to be known. He wanted to remain anonymous. But it is evident that his fame had already preceded him (Mk 7: 24). The people knew him and a woman begins to present him with a request.
Matthew 15: 22: The anguished cry of the woman.
The woman was from another race and religion. She begins to beg for the healing of her daughter who was possessed by an unclean spirit. The pagans had no problem having recourse to Jesus. The Jews, however, had problems co-existing with the pagans! The Law forbade them to make contact with a person of another religion or race.
Matthew 15: 23-24: The strange silence of Jesus and the reaction of the disciples.
The woman shouts, but Jesus does not respond. A strange attitude! Because, if there is one sure thing throughout the Bible, from beginning to end, it is that God always listens to the cry of the oppressed. But here Jesus does not listen. He does not want to listen. Why? Even the disciples are surprised by Jesus’ attitude and ask him to say something to the woman. They want to get rid of that shouting: "Give her what she wants, they said, because she is shouting after us".Jesus explains his silence, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel". His silence is connected with an awareness of his mission and his fidelity to the law of God. The passive form shows that the subject of the verb’s action is the Father. It is as though he had said, "The Father does not want me to listen to this woman, because He has sent me only to the lost sheep of Israel!" For the same reason, at the time of Matthew’s writing of the Gospel, the Pharisees were saying, "We cannot make contact with pagans!"
Matthew 15: 25-26: The woman repeats her request and Jesus again refuses her.
The woman is not worried by the refusal of Jesus. The love of a mother for her sick daughter does not take notice of religious rules or the reaction of other people, but seeks healing wherever her intuition leads her to a solution, namely, in Jesus! She draws closer, she throws herself at Jesus’ feet and goes on begging, "Lord, help me". Faithful to the rules of his religion, Jesus answers with a parable and says that it is not right to take the bread of one’s children and give it to dogs. The parallel is taken from everyday life. Even today, we find many children and dogs in the houses of the poor. Jesus says that no mother will take bread from the mouths of her children and give it to dogs. Concretely, the children are the Jewish people and the dogs are the pagans. End of story! Obedient to the Father and faithful to his mission, Jesus goes on his way and takes no notice of the pleading of the woman!
Matthew 15: 27-28: At the third attempt, the woman obtains the healing of her daughter.
The woman will not yield. She agrees with Jesus, but she amplifies the parallel and applies it to her case, "Ah, yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table". She simply draws the conclusion from that image, showing that in the houses of the poor (and so also in the house of Jesus) the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of the children. Most probably, Jesus himself as a young boy would have given bits of bread to dogs that roamed under the table where he ate with his parents. And in "Jesus’ house", that is, in the Christian community of Matthew’s time, at the end of the first century, there were "twelve baskets full" left over (Mt 14:20) for the "dogs", that is, for the pagans!
Jesus’ reaction is immediate, "Woman, you have great faith!" The woman got what she asked for. From that moment her daughter was healed. The reason Jesus responded was that he understood that the Father wanted him to grant the woman’s request. The meeting with the Canaanite woman freed him from the racial prison and opened him to the whole of humanity. This means that Jesus discovered the will of the Father by listening to the reactions of people. This pagan woman’s attitude opened new horizons for Jesus and helped him take an important step in the fulfilment of the Father’s plan. The gift of life and salvation is for all who seek life and who try to free themselves from the chains that bind vital energy. This episode helps us to perceive a little of the mystery that surrounded the person of Jesus, the manner in which he was in communion with the Father and how he discovered the will of the Father in the events of life.
6.
Psalm 6
Let us
unite ourselves to the shouts of all mothers
for their sons and daughters
for their sons and daughters
O Lord,
rebuke me not in thy anger,
nor chasten me in thy wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is sorely troubled.
But thou, O Lord--how long?
Turn, O Lord, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of thy steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of thee;
in Sheol who can give thee praise?
I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief,
it grows weak because of all my foes.
from me, all you workers of evil;
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely troubled;
they shall turn back, and be put to shame in a moment.
nor chasten me in thy wrath.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
My soul also is sorely troubled.
But thou, O Lord--how long?
Turn, O Lord, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of thy steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of thee;
in Sheol who can give thee praise?
I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eye wastes away because of grief,
it grows weak because of all my foes.
from me, all you workers of evil;
for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
The Lord has heard my supplication;
the Lord accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and sorely troubled;
they shall turn back, and be put to shame in a moment.
7.
Final Prayer
Lord
Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will
of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength
to practice that which your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your
mother, not only listen to but also practise the Word. You who live and reign
with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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