FIRST READING
Jeremiah 31:1-7
At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people that escaped the sword have found favor in the desert. As Israel comes forward to be given his rest, the LORD appears to him from afar: With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits. Yes, a day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim: “Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the LORD, our God.”
For thus says the LORD:
Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Jeremiah 31:10, 11-12ab, 13
R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, proclaim it on distant isles, and say: He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together, he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob, he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror. Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion, they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance, and young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
ALLELUIA
Luke 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
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.
REFLECTIONS:
Do you ever feel "put-off" or ignored by the Lord?
This passage describes the only occasion in which Jesus ministered outside
of Jewish territory. (Tyre and Sidon were fifty miles north of Israel and
still exist today in modern Lebanon.) A Gentile woman, a foreigner who
was not a member of the Jewish people, puts Jesus on the spot by pleading
for his help. She addressed Jesus as Lord and Son of David. She recognized
that Jesus was God's annoined one who would bring healing and salvation,
not only to the people of Israel, but to the Gentiles as well. She asks
Jesus to show mercy and compassion to her tormented daughter. At first
Jesus seemed to pay no attention to her, and this made his disciples feel
embarrassed. Jesus does this to test the woman to awaken faith in her.
When she persisted in asking Jesus to heal her daughter, Jesus answered
by saying one shouldn't take food prepared for their children and throw
it to the dogs. What did Jesus mean by this expression? The Jews often
spoke of the Gentiles as "unclean dogs" since they worshipped idols, offered
sacrifices to demons, and rejected the true God. For the Greeks the "dog"
was a symbol of dishonor and was used to describe a shameless and audacious
woman. Matthew 7:6 records the expression: do not give dogs what is
holy. Jesus was sent from the Father in heaven to first feed the children
of Israel with the true bread of life that would bring healing, reconciliation,
and lasting union with God. This humble Canaanite woman was not put-off
by Jesus' refusal to give her what she asked for. In desparation and hope
for her tormented child, she pleads with Jesus to give some of the "crumbs
that fall from the table" to the "little dogs".
John Chrysostom (349-407 AD), in his sermon on this passage, remarks
how this woman approached Jesus with great humility, wisdom, and faith:
"See her humility as well as her faith! For he had called the
Jews 'children,' but she was not satisfied with this. She even called them
'masters,' so far was she from grieving at the praises of others. She said,
'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's
table.' Behold the woman's wisdom! She did not venture so much as to say
a word against anyone else. She was not stung to see others praised, nor
was she indignant to be reproached. Behold her constancy. When he answered,
'It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs,'
she said, 'Yes, Lord.' He called them 'children,' but she called them 'masters.'
He used the name of a dog, but she described the action of a dog. Do you
see the woman's humility? ...Do you see how this woman, too, contributed
not a little to the healing of her daughter? For note that Christ did not
say, 'Let your little daughter be made whole,' but 'Great is your faith,
be it done for you as you desire.' These words were not uttered at random,
nor were they flattering words, but great was the power of her faith, and
for our learning. He left the certain test and demonstration, however,
to the issue of events. Her daughter accordingly was immediately healed."
[The Gospel of Matthew, Homily 52.3]
Jesus praised this woman for her faith and for her love because she made
the misery of her child her own. She was willing to suffer rejection in
order to obtain healing for her loved one. She also had indomitable persistence.
Her faith grew in contact with the person of Jesus. She began with a request
and she ended on her knees in worshipful prayer to the living God. No one
who ever sought Jesus with faith whether Jew or Gentile was refused
his help. Do you seek Jesus with expectant faith?
"Lord Jesus, your love and mercy knows no bounds. May I trust you always
and pursue you with indomitable persistence as this woman did. Increase
my faith in your saving power and deliver me for all evil and harm. "
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