Matthew 15:21-28

Jeremiah 31:1-7

Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13

Matthew 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 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.”

He said in reply,

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But the woman came and did him 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 her daughter was healed from that hour.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, only in heaven will I know the depths of your merciful love. Here on earth I catch glimpses. I see how you have acted throughout history and in my life. One day, I will behold your merciful love face to face.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Have Pity on Me: At first glance, the Gospel passage could make it seem like Jesus was having a bad day or woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Nothing could be further from the truth. Why in the world, then, would Jesus refer to the Canaanite woman as a dog and say that he was sent only to the children of Israel? If we look at the passage in the light of the Old Testament, we see that God tends to test his servants. God tested Noah when he asked him to build an Ark and gather the animals and his family into it. God tested Abraham when he promised him a son and asked him to sacrifice Isaac. God tested Job when he permitted Satan to take away his wealth, his family, and his health. In like manner, Jesus tests the Canaanite woman. Like Noah, like Abraham, and like Job, she passes the test. Instead of turning away, she persists. She doesn’t just double down. She persists a third and a fourth time! She first asks Jesus to have pity on her and release her daughter from the torment of a demon. Jesus answered her with silence. She persists in calling out and Jesus’ disciples ask him about her. When she hears the response of Jesus about only being sent to Israel, she does not give up and instead does homage and asks for help a third time. When Jesus references the separation between Jews (understood as children) and Gentiles (understood as dogs or puppies), she finds a way to make her fourth attempt: “Even the dogs in the house eat the scraps.” She is content with the leftovers and the scraps from the table. She doesn’t demand a place at the table, she only wants the healing of her daughter and her daughter’s release from the powers of darkness.

2. Great is Your Faith: As Jesus points out, the Canaanite woman is a tremendous model of faith. She has heard about the mighty deeds Jesus has done, especially his healings and his exorcisms. She knew that curing the affliction of her daughter surpassed her own power. She was powerless to release her daughter from the torments of the devil. But she believed that Jesus, the Son of David, could. Just as tradition held that Solomon, the first son of David, had the power to exorcise demons, she knew that Jesus, the ultimate Son of David, could exorcise the demon that afflicts her daughter. Her faith is truly great. Neither Jesus’ initial silence, nor the efforts of Jesus’ disciples to silence her, nor the challenge Jesus can stop her prayer of petition.

3. Jeremiah on the End of the Exile: In the First Reading, we read from Jeremiah 31. The end of the chapter contains the prophecy about the New Covenant. Today’s passage speaks about the homecoming of Israel (Ephraim) and Judah. He compares this homecoming – the end of the Exile – with the old exodus: God will bring his people to the Promised Land once again. Jeremiah knows that the chastisement of the Lord will only last for a time. The Lord has scattered the tribes of Israel among the Gentile nations (Jeremiah 31:10), but, because of his everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3), he will correct their behavior and draw them back to himself as a father seeks the return of their first-born child (Jeremiah 31:9). God desires to bestow mercy upon his wayward child (Jeremiah 31:20) (see Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: Jeremiah, Lamentations, and Baruch, 65). The healing of the Canaanite woman’s daughter represents the ingathering of the Gentiles into the New Kingdom of God.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you were sinless from your conception to your death on the cross. You were ever faithful. You knew how to challenge each one of those you encountered. You challenged your mother to ponder the mystery of your divine sonship. And you challenged the Canaanite woman to persist in her prayer. Challenge me today!

Living the Word of God: How do I persist in prayer? Do I ask once, twice, thrice, and four times? Have I ever asked anything from God like the Canaanite woman? Do I ask for good things from my Father? Do I always make my petitions adding “if it be your will”?