Reflection for Sunday August 17, 2008

Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8. Psalm 67, Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32,

Matthew 15: 10-28

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in his famous letter from Birmingham Jail responded to criticisms of the local clergy who charged that he was an outside agitator who was stirring up trouble away from his home town.  He wrote:

I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states.  I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham.  Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.  We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.  Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

In the gospel today, Jesus has a discussion about the way we think. He points out that what we say, perhaps how we act toward others is much more indicative of how we think than keeping certain religious rules about what we eat or drink.

It seems his comments offended the pious. One is reminded of the story Jesus told of the pious person who went into the temple to pray. He stood there in the attitude of prayer and said, “Thank God I am not like other people.” It would be dreadfully offensive if we said, “Thank God I am not of another race or culture.” Yet we do find ourselves thinking such things as we watch the news or engage in heated conversations about those people who don’t agree with our politics or religion or social attitudes. It makes it worse when we are sure we are right and they are wrong.

The gospel continues with a story about Jesus being approached by a local woman who wants him to heal her daughter. The woman from Canaan is the first non-Jewish woman that Jesus deals with in the gospels and - as the story shows - there seems to be some reluctance on his part to do so.

Though Matthew stresses that the primary mission of Jesus was to the “house of Israel,” in today’s Gospel a non-Jewish woman draws him to a more universalistic vision. Narrated by both Mark (7:24-30) and Matthew, this story of courageous faith and boundary-crossing challenges the church even today.

The woman is a Canaanite (a term that evokes Israel’s ancient enemies), who comes alone to Jesus, crying, “Have “mercy” on me Lord, Son of David.” Her request suggests that she had heard of his healing power. Since illness was thought to arise from demonic attack, she begs release and healing for her daughter. Jesus meets her request with stony silence, and the disciples say, “Get rid of her, for she keeps yelling at us.” Again Jesus rebuffs her: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” In no other miracle story has a petitioner been treated so harshly.

The narrative changes when the woman, doubly an outsider because she is a Gentile and is alone in public and is a woman, challenges this rebuff by “worshiping” Jesus (something no disciple does prior to the resurrection) and utters the simple prayer, “Lord, help me.” Again there comes a rebuff from Jesus, harsher than the earlier two: “It is not right to take the food of children [Jewish people] and give it to dogs” [meaning the Gentiles]. The Israelites called Gentile people “dogs”, a derogatory term, because of a long-standing ethnic feud between the people of the Holy Land and the people of Lebanon. Remember, dogs didn’t enjoy the privileged place in society then as they do for many of us now.

Not to be put off, the woman turns Jesus’ words back on him: “Please, Lord,” calling herself a “dog,” and asks for the crumbs that fall from the table. In a startling turn of events, Jesus replies: “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter is healed at that moment. Jesus tells her that her trust has made it possible for her daughter to be healed. The woman is being a conduit for another. There is an extraordinary reminder here that we may become “go-betweens” (advocates) for others and be the means by which God’s gift of healing love may be extended to others.

Two interpretations have accompanied this narrative through history. Building on the first reading, which foresees that the Gentiles will come to Israel’s God to form a house of prayer for all nations, the Canaanite woman is a symbol of those nations that will hear the message of the Gospel. The courageous faith of the woman is a second major theme. Twice in Matthew Jesus has limited his mission to the sons and daughters of Israel (Mt. 10:5-6 and 15:24). Yet here he crosses this self-imposed boundary to bring merciful healing to a Gentile.

Often the deepest meaning of the Gospel is disclosed by the courage of the “outsider,” who is driven by loving concern for innocent victims of disease or injustice. Often they have been met by stony silence or rude rebuff by Jesus’ followers. The “great faith” of this mother who breaks all boundaries out of love is a model and challenge for our time.

I feel that Jesus was trying to make a point about faith - and about the barriers that people place in the way of salvation - barriers of race, barriers of culture, barriers of sex, barriers of wealth, even barriers of morality and religion.

Is not - as it says in Isaiah, the prophet that Jesus quotes the most – Is not the House of the Lord of Israel, the House of God, to be called a House of Prayer for All Nations?

That is the way it supposed to be.  But how often is it that way?  It is easy for us to be caring at a distance. Writing cheques to help other people in need is a vital and good service, but it is perhaps made easier because we don’t have to rub shoulders with the people we are helping.

All too often we choose the “safe” route.  Even our prayers are safe. They are prayers at a distance. They cost us little. They trip off the tongue at bedtime or even in church when that long list of sick people is read during the Prayers of the People. We risk nothing when we say, “God bless Annie.”

When Jesus says that if we are to follow him we must be cross-bearers, he invites us into uncomfortable, painful, and hurting places where those who need our prayers live. He invites us out of our comfort zones. He invites us to experience the tragedy and hurt another one is suffering. He invites us to be with those who may be called “dogs,” or think of themselves as “dogs” – unclean, apart, perhaps at the bottom of the social or class ladder, or perhaps “apart” because of their lifestyle or habits.

The woman from the region of Tyre and Sidon came to Jesus where he was. They met and exchanged barbed words, and another was healed. Here is an extraordinary example of reconciliation and grace.

There are moments of desperation in every life when we are impelled to step out of our safety zone, our secure society, when our need overcomes fear and even prejudice.

Each Sunday we step from our own world into the unknown place where Jesus is and he feeds us with more than crumbs or scraps. We receive him. We live in him and he lives in us. The question remains, For who is our encounter with the Lord intended? Is it intended for another, a person who may live in a place or have an experience outside the normal routine of our life, or whose habits or lifestyle may offend us greatly?

Perhaps in this holy place this day we can think of a group, or a person who cries out to be healed in one way or another. Dare we step out to the table at which the Lord sits and beg for his aid? Dare we be a channel of healing and love to that other person or group who, too, belongs to God and for whom Jesus died?

Whatever we think about the silence of Jesus when he is confronted by the woman from Canaan, - Whatever we think about the comment he made to the disciples about the lost sheep of Israel, - And whatever we make of his comment to the woman about how it is not fair to throw the bread of the children to the dogs - today's passage shows us that the barriers exist between people, and that those barriers can be overcome.

And so I encourage each of us to step outside of our comfort zones, to stretch ourselves and in faith step over the barriers and reach out a hand in the name of God to maintain justice, to do what is right because as Martin Luther King so wisely said: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."  God overcomes barriers.