20th Sunday, Ord. Time A, August 14, 2011:
11:13-15,29-32. Matthew 15:21-28:
"Salvation is from the Jews." It is Jesus who says this to the Samaritan
woman who met him at Jacob's well in Samaria. (John 4:22c). All of our
readings have the theme of salvation within them. We start with Isaiah, the
outstanding prophet who is the most universalist among the prophets. This
means that God not only has Israel as the Chosen People but also includes
all other nations who are called to salvation which also means a call to
holiness. Vatican II merely iterated this when it speaks of the "universal
call to holiness." Isaiah connects it with the sacred place of the Temple
in Jerusalem where he spent most of his time writing and speaking in the
name of God. He tells us, "My house shall be a house of prayer for all the
peoples."
Psalm 67 with its response is addressed to all peoples not only Israel in
its praise and worship of the one God. All are saved by the deeds and
actions of God working among them: "May all the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you
guide." We are led to reflect on this psalm which has not trace of
anxiety, fear, or oppression from enemies. After a string of individual
lamentations, this psalm refreshes the thirsty soul. Its joyful praises
are a fitting way to honor God the Creator with a human heart filled with
thanksgiving for God who bestows all good gifts on every people and nation.
Paul's letter to the Romans has the special section that treats of Israel
and the Gentiles. Chapters nine through eleven are most valuable for
Christian and Jewish sharing something in common--the word of God seen
through Paul who is ever faithful to his roots and laments for his brothers
and sisters. He affirmst that all are saved through the Jew Jesus and he
prays for reconciliation that should happen between and among Christians
and Israelites. He states, "God's gifts are irrevocable. God has
imprisoned all in disobedience that he might have mercy on all." (Romans
11:29,32).
Jesus tells us that he has been sent only to the People of Israel in our
selection from Matthew. Yet, a Canaanite woman who prays for her daughter
before Jesus and trusts in him shows that there are exceptions to this
saying of Jesus. Even though he is ministering only in Israel, others come
to him from among the Romans and here a humble woman from the area of Tyre
and Sidon near the Lebanon of today. She has such great trust in his power
to heal and to save that she cries out, "Lord, Son of David, have pity on
me." She does not allow the disciples to push her away or to keep her
quiet thought they try to do this in order to keep Jesus from being
bothered by her. Her strong and intergrated personality combined with her
wordly wisdom offsets the mindset of Jesus and also his strong remark to
her that normally would be saying no to her request. She wants but a
morsel of what he is serving to those at table with him for like a puppy
she would gladly devour the scraps that fall from the master's table. You
get the point! She has overcome the selfishness and protectiveness of the
disciples and resists Jesus first refusal in his speech. She trusts and
has confidence he will hear her prayer. Her daughter is healed and saved
(the word to heal means also to save) because of the great faith Jesus
finds in her. "Jesus then said in reply, "Woman, you have great faith! Your
wish will come to pass. That very moment her daughter got better."
God's salvation and healing is meant for all peoples and nations. God is
always there for us especially in those times when we think God is not
present nor attentive to our needs. It is our faith that helps us to be
like the Canaanite woman and thus to find God's saving help. Amen.
posted by Fr. Bert SM at 11:03 AM
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