Jesus' Teaching of Inclusion

 In today's gospel, Matthew 15: 21-28, a Canaanite woman, a non-Jew, approaches Jesus and begs Him to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon. Jesus ignores her. When she persists, He  says to her: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  Again, she approached Him and says: "Lord, help me." He replies: "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."  the woman is not deterred by that remark and says to Jesus:  "Please, lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters."  Even Jesus' disciples were against this woman and asked Jesus to "send her away; for she keeps calling after us.  However, Jesus is amazed by the faith of this foreigner and says to her:  "O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish." And Matthew tells us that "the woman's daughter was healed from that hour."

O my God! I probably would have walked again dejected and hurt and angry.  Not this woman! No way was she going to take a "no"!  Her daughter was suffering tremendously at the hands of Satan.  "No, you are not one of us," was unacceptable to this Canaanite mother.

Jesus was well aware of the Jews attitude toward strangers and, in fact, their animosity toward Canaanites!  Was He actually teaching His disciples how to treat strangers, namely, that they, too, were part of the redemptive process and recipients of  God's generosity, compassion and love, just as they were!  Is it possible that, all along, Jesus actually intended to respond positively to this woman's request but led her along as a way of breaking through his disciples' belief that they alone were privy to God's merciful love?

Do you, do I, think that we are better than others, more deserving of God's mercy and that there are people who deserve to be sent away from "the Table of the Lord"? Do you, do I, believe that it is right for us to exclude others, to be indifferent toward others, to ignore their needs for help?

A God of Infinite Love, Mercy and Compassion toward All

In today's Gospel, Matthew 15: 21-28, a Canaanite woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon approached Jesus, calling out to Him: "Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon."

Initially, it looked as though Jesus ignored her, as He does not respond to her request at first., so it seems.  Jesus' disciples are annoyed by this foreigner and say to Jesus: "Send her away,  for she keeps calling out after us."  In Jesus' times foreigners were referred to as "dogs." Jesus uses this expression and says to her: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel....It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."  The woman is not taken aback. She says to Jesus: "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters."  Jesus, amazed at this foreigner's expression of faith, says to her: "'O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish.' And her daughter was healed from that hour."

What a lesson for Jesus' disciples! No one is excluded from God's infinite love, compassion, and mercy. Those considered "dogs" by the Jews would be treated as compassionately as the Jews themselves! Gentiles as well as the Jews have equal access to Jesus' healing power!

Redemption is for all men and women in our day as well. Those toward whom you and I might not want to show mercy are shown mercy by God. Those excluded by society, put down by the powers that be in our world, those scorned and treated like "dogs" are treated lovingly, compassionately, and mercifully by God. His love, compassion and mercy are abundant toward all of His creation: men and woman alike, the rich and the poor alike, blacks and whites and all colors alike, criminals and noncriminals alike, young and old alike, the universe itself and all that dwells therein. 

A God with Arms Always Open to Embrace Us

In today's Gospel, Luke 14: 1-3, 11-32, Jesus tells the story of the loving father, the prodigal son and the elder brother. Who am I in that story? the prodigal son who squanders the inheritance God has given me, living promiscuously, deceptively, corruptly, slovenly; the elder brother who lives by the letter of the law, does everything right, feels justified, superior to others and gets extremely angry when someone who turns from sin and evil is celebrated?   Do I secretively rejoice at another's misfortune or poor choices saying, when things go wrong for this person, that he or she is getting what is deserved? Do I withdraw and sulk when such a person turns from evil to do good and a party is thrown in his or her honor? Or am I the father/ the person eagerly waiting for the return of the "prodigal" person, running to greet him/her with open arms--no questions asked but, instead, arranging for a big celebration!

The father, in this parable, of course, is God! We are both of the children!  When you and I go astray, make poor choices that create a famine in our lives on all fronts--emotionally, socially, physically, financially, psychologically, spiritually--, as did both sons, God waits and waits and waits. God will wait hourly, weekly, monthly, yearly for our return. No matter how long we separate ourselves from God--from Love, Forgiveness, Intimacy, Reconciliation--God waits to embrace us with open, caring, loving arms, showing us compassion, restoring good fortunes to us, and lavishing us with gifts. The inheritance God has for us is intact!

Lord, open my eyes to Your love, Your compassion, Your generosity, Your longing to embrace me! Whenever I fall or wander off to places where I will encounter famine spiritually, socially, psychologically, emotionally, may I have the humility to come back to you, as did the prodigal son in this parable.  Forgive me, Lord, when I stay away and give up, saying something like:  "What use is it for me to make any changes in my life; it is too late. Anyway, I'm lost. I'm no good. What I have done is unforgivable!" Please, Lord, don't let me stay stuck in those poisonous attitudes and in humility return to you!  I ask this in Jesus' name!  Amen!





    
       

A Great and Awesome God

Today's first reading, Daniel 9: 4b-10, begins as follows: "Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws."

God is addressed by Daniel, by you and me and all humankind as "great and awesome!"   We sinners are talking to an "awesome and great God!" All of us, like Daniel, have sinned before God. Our ancestors have sinned! Every nation has sinned, has worshipped idols, has sought strength and comfort, not from God, but from material things, earthly things. We have lorded ourselves over others.  We have, as a nation, as individuals, as a church, as a society, as a nationality, resorted to violence even to the point of war, flexing our muscles. We have alienated ourselves from God and one another.  We have engaged in manslaughter, in various forms of violence, in prejudice, and unjust behaviors. We have been merciless, arrogant, greedy, pride-filled and haughty. We have judged others, condemned them, and on and on and on! And, with Daniel, we say: "Lord, great and awesome God,  you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments! We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws."

In today's responsorial psalm, we pray: Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. Remember not against us the iniquities of the past; may your compassion quickly come to us, for we are brought very low.  Help us, O God, our savior, because of the glory of your name; deliver us and pardon our sins for your name sake....[W]ith your great power free those doomed to death." And God does and wills it!

What a great and awesome God, a God of love, a God of compassion, a God of mercy.  We are asked to be merciful, compassionate, merciful and love as is our God!