Reading 1
Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.
The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him,
loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants—
all who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
for my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.
Reading 2
Brothers and sisters:
I am speaking to you Gentiles.
Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,
I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous
and thus save some of them.
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.
Gospel
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 Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus' 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 Jesus 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 the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.
Reflection
Today’s Gospel depicts the strange scene of Jesus’ apparent rudeness to a Canaanite woman in need. What message could the Word of God be speaking to us in such an exchange? Our Church, in her wisdom, pairs today’s Gospel with readings that share an important theme: that God’s love and salvation are offered to all the nations. This context reveals the deeper meaning behind the passage.
In the first reading, the Lord says through the prophet Isaiah: “my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples,” and even foreigners who follow the precepts of God will be “joyful in my house of prayer.” God’s plan, from the prophets of the Old Testament and even before the beginning of time, was to bring all peoples to Himself through Christ. However, many in Israel harbored a narrow vision of what the Savior would do, thinking He would raise up their nation alone. While it is true that Israel is God’s chosen people and plays an integral role in the salvation of the world, Jesus needs to demonstrate to His followers that they do not have a monopoly on faith — or on Him.
In the second reading, Saint Paul addresses the Gentiles and says, “I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them.” Paul knows the animosity between the Jews and Gentiles, and he wants to use it as a teaching tool. Remarkably, he hopes to motivate the Jews to conversion through their jealousy. Later, Paul says “For God delivered all to disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all.” In this way, he points out how God permits wrongdoing so that He can demonstrate the triumph of His mercy. Neither of these statements endorses jealousy or disobedience, but rather they exemplify how God’s grace can use the evil that people freely choose for greater good.
When Jesus initially dismisses the Canaanite woman, we can see similar themes to the second reading. Jesus first treats the woman the way His followers expect Him to — as less than the lost sheep of Israel. But Christ, in His perfect wisdom, knows how the scene will unfold. He gives her the opportunity to demonstrate her remarkable virtue to all who would ask Him to “send her away.” Jesus transforms the narrow-minded bias of His people into a valuable lesson of faith, and all the while begins to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy of salvation for all nations.
Today, let us imitate the Canaanite woman in both her humility and her insistent faith. When we pray, let us throw ourselves upon the Lord no matter what we are going through, trusting Him completely. Finally, please join me in taking the lesson of these readings to heart. Let us desire the good of all our brothers and sisters — regardless of who they are or from where they come.
Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
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