Jesus and the Canaanite woman

It’s the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, but I have some great news. Since Cebu City has allowed 10% attendance in our churches, I got a reservation for my wife and daughter to hear Mass today, which will be our first time to hear Mass in five months and have Communion. Praise God.

Today’s gospel reading comes from Matt.15: 21-28, it is about Jesus and the Canaanite woman.

It is interesting to note that for me, the most important parts of the New Testament was when Jesus talked with five women. First among them is his Holy Mother Mary in the wedding in Cana, then there is Martha during the raising of Lazarus, then we learned that beautiful story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman to whom Jesus revealed that he is the Messiah, and Mary Magdalene whom he first reveals that he has resurrected from the dead and the Canaanite woman in today’s gospel.

“21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.” 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.”

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First of all, in today’s gospel, Jesus was no longer in Israel, but in Tyre and Sidon, which is today in Lebanon, not far from Haifa, so close to Mt. Carmel. As we learned from the Old Testament, the Canaanites used to live in Israel until God gave this promised land to the Israelites. They first fought in Jericho with Joshua when they crossed the Jordan River and took over the land from the Canaanites.

So while in Gentile territory, a Canaanite woman approached Jesus and said, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed.” But somehow, Jesus did not even acknowledge her presence or totally ignored her. But I’m sure that Jesus heard that the Canaanite woman addressed him with deep knowledge that he was the Son of David, a title he truly deserved and only a few of his disciples even knew. So his disciples asked the Lord to send her away as she was a gentile.

Then suddenly Jesus answered the Canaanite woman and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. 26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Now the woman knelt down to worship the Lord Jesus and replied, “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

From this conversation you can readily tell that the Canaanite women knew that the Messiah came first to redeem the people of Israel, which is why she cannot have these gifts for the people of Israel. However in total humility, she only told Jesus that even dogs eat the crumbs falling from their master’s table. Jesus then replied to her saying, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.”

Compare today’s gospel to last week’s gospel when Jesus walked on water and when Peter saw Jesus walking on water, he also told Peter to come and walk with him. But when Peter saw how strong the winds were, he started to sink and shouted “Lord save me!” To which Jesus held the hands of Peter and said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Now how come a gentile woman knew how to properly address Jesus, declaring him the Son of David? So we learn from the Canaanite woman that persistency and humility can bring us closer to our Lord.