I will gather others to them besides those already gathered. (Isaiah 56:8)
Pic: Bazzi Rahib, Ilyas Basim Khuri. The Canaanite Woman asks for healing for her daughter, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=55922 [retrieved August 12, 2020]
(Year A: The Tenth Sunday after
Trinity, 16th August, 2020)
READINGS (COI & paired as between the Gospel and the Old
Testament readings)
The second part of this Sunday’s Gospel story presents a
challenge. We find ourselves with Jesus in what would have been considered as a
foreign place among foreign people. Remember that in the running order of
Matthew’s 15th chapter we have just read about an argument between
Jesus and some Pharisees and Scribes who were taking issue about the Law
including ritual cleansing practices.
Now, in the district of tyre and Sidon a Canaanite, a
foreigner, came forward and ‘started shouting’ at Jesus, a Jew, in search of
help. Why would a devout Jew respond to a foreigner for help? Was Jesus trying out the patience and trust of
others around him by deliberately not answering this Canaanite (in other words
ignoring her)? Even then, he provided, according to Matthew, what might be
considered an abrupt and rude response by declaring ‘it is not fair to take the
children’s food and throw it to the dogs’.
If ever Jesus might be accused of political incorrectness and
ethno-religious discrimination here was a prime example! (Canaanites would have
been regarded, generally, in Jewish society as a sinful and godless race to be
shunned if not exterminated).
But, the Canaanite persisted and, this time, on her knees.
She had a daughter who was seriously ill. And mothers, as we all know, will go
to any length when it comes to their children – child or adult. We may note that the woman persisted without
being presumptuous. She did not presume that Jesus would perform a miracle.
And, she did not argue with his blunt parable about giving food to the ‘dogs’.
She used the parable to continue pleading by suggesting that even the dogs can
eat the crumbs that fall from the masters’ table. How often do we see an honesty and realism in
those outside our comfort circles including those who are cut off from our
fellowship or networks.
Feeling cut off is one of the most difficult human
experiences to deal with. Many know this from experience – distant past as well
as recent times when travel has been so severely restricted. Being cut off may
be more than the absence of ‘real time’ encounter (as distinct from virtual).
It may arise from a distancing by others and even a rejection of oneself by
others. Moreover, it may arise from past
decisions that we have made – consciously or otherwise – to remove ourselves
from connection to others. Whatever the circumstances, being cut off is not
pleasant or wholesome.
To be cut off is to be alienated from someone or something.
It may also involve a cutting off from oneself – one’s own inner being, needs
and concerns. Ultimately, a state of being cut off may involve a cutting off
from awareness of a loving God who watches over us every moment of our lives.
Writing to the Christians at Rome, Paul, the Apostle to the
gentiles, looks with great compassion and also great hope for his own people –
the Jewish people, the chosen people destined to be the first to be saved
except that many of them missed the opportunity. However, ‘the gifts and the calling of God
are irrevocable’ (Romans 11:29). There
is always a firm hope that even when we are cut off and alienated for whatever
reasons God is waiting, calling, inviting and active in our lives. In a well known passage from the prophecy of
Isaiah we are reminded that ‘my house shall be called a house of
prayer for all peoples.’ (Isaiah 56:7).
In other words, God’s house is for everyone and not just the chosen, or
the exclusively invited. God’s house has no walls and no covid attendance
number restrictions apply when we understand the the broad and inclusive
meaning of church (the root word, in the Greek, means gathering) !
The Canaanite mother displays three qualities: lots of
faith, lots of humility laced with a sense of humour and lots of persistence.
Faith and humility are the winning formula time and time again in the gospel
not least when they are displayed directly by foreigners or outcasts such as
the thief on the cross or the Roman centurion who pleaded for his servant.
Another assertive woman has been the mother of Jesus – the
first disciple of the Lord. She declared the greatness of God her saviour in
the Magnificat. She continues to plead
for the disciples with motherly care. If
faith coupled with humility can move mountains then we are witnesses to the
power of God at work in intercessory prayer.
We can thank the persistence of mothers for a lot of things
in our lives. The story of the foreign woman who persisted out of love for her
sick daughter is a reminder that we, too, are both the object of the faith-full
persistence of others as well as the subjects of faith who never give up on the
mercy of God.
843 words
Notes:
1 There are a
huge number of excellent online resources providing background information and
study material as well as spiritual reflection. Here are just three sources:
Hearers
of the Word – notes on the Sunday Readings (Rev K. O’Mahony OSA)
Readings, hymns and sermon ideas
(Rev P. Comerford)
The text this week (search
by Proper and date on the right-hand side of the home page)
2 Any views,
information or interpretation on this site are those of the author of this blog
and are not necessarily those of others.
3 This weekend
in many Christian in the West and East believe in and remember the ‘Dormition’
or ‘Assumption’ of Mary as when she fell asleep at the end of her earthly
journey she was taken up by God into a place of blessedness with the Risen
Christ. Her faith and humility were vindicated and her care for us never stops.
Praying with the Word
Let all the peoples praise you O God, let all the peoples
praise you (Psalm 67). Heavenly Father, in Jesus you declared to the foreigner:
‘Great is your faith – let it be done for you as you wish’. Lord, you know our
deepest needs and wishes. Moreover, you know what is good for us. Lead us to
desire what is good for us and for others.
Loving God, your call is to everyone regardless of colour,
creed or conviction. Help us to echo your call to others within and beyond our
circles. Help us to be heralds of the good news that all are invited and that
our gathering or ecclesia is for all.
We pray for our world and our country remembering those who
are poor, on the margins, mistreated or excluded.
We pray for our families and communities – may they be
places of welcome, inclusion and real love.
We pray for one another at this time …..
We pray for those who have gone before us – thanking you for
their lives and example – may we all be one in your kingdom when you come again
in glory.
Our Father
Collect of this Sunday: Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be
open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their
petitions, make them to ask such things
as shall please you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer,
Trinity X)
Collect of the Word:
God of the nations, to your table all are invited and in
your family no one is a stranger. Satisfy the hunger of those gathered in this
house of prayer, and mercifully extend to all the people on earth the joy of
salvation and faith. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and
ever. Amen. (Rev. K. O’Mahony, Hearers of the Word,
Sunday 20A20)
Unless
otherwise stated, scripture citations are taken from www.biblegateway.com using the New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
(NRSVA). Where material is used from
the Book of Common Prayer [ © 2004, RCB, Church of Ireland]
this is acknowledged.
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