Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 118


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."




The most hostile critics of the Church are usually unwilling to criticize Jesus. In fact they more apt to credit him with words he never said and policies he never expressed. Feminists might conclude he intended to ordain women but his disciples refused, or gays will insist he intended marriage for anyone regardless of gender or sexuality.


If Jesus had any enemies they might pick up this story and try to make something of it. Wasn't he rather rude to this Canaanite woman?


That apparently was not the intention of the Evangelists Mark and Matthew who tell us this story. Rather, they used this peculiar story to address the appearance of gentiles in a Jewish/Christian congregation.


There was little in the story of Jesus to indicate his Mercy might include the gentiles. He spoke to Jews and called Jews as disciples and apostles.  He consoled and healed the Jewish sick and challenged Jewish authorities.


Growing up in Galilee he would have known gentiles as neighbors. When children ran the streets they would have played together; something Jerusalemites could not imagine. In fact the denizens of the capital city might have snubbed him and his foreign accent because Galileans associated freely with gentiles. But clearly, his ministry was to "the lost sheep of the House of Israel."


But after his resurrection and ascension and as the disciples set out to make disciples of all nations, they realized first that gentiles were joining the Christian congregations and, secondly, certain adjustments would have to be made.


Like Americans who want all immigrants to speak and read English, the Jewish Christians at first were unwilling to make allowance for non-Jews. They supposed the men should be circumcised; women should prepare kosher food; and children should learn some Hebrew! Only gradually and with anguish and great controversy -- which is described in the Acts of the Apostles -- did the Church make accommodations for those who would become the overwhelming majority.


Learning of the early history of our church prepares us to address the controversies of our time. There is nothing new under the sun.


Today's gospel reflects the struggle of the early Church and the choice they made -- mercy. First, they had to recognize and could not deny the faith of the gentiles who came to Jesus. "Oh woman, great is your faith!" echoes the Master's response and those Jewish Christians who had to admire their new gentile friends.


The story suggests that even Jesus could adapt to unexpected circumstances. Clearly, he did not want to hear the woman's plea; he was not prepared for that. But when, according to Saint Mark, the woman marched through the door they tried to close against her, and replied to Jesus' insulting remark with a clever mot, he relented.


The story is about God's willingness and our readiness to recognize human misery. There is simply no difference between Jewish and gentile pain, just as there is no difference between homosexual and heterosexual distress, nor between "white" and "black" sickness. Men's illnesses and women's illnesses may be different but both demand a response of compassion. Though we recognize the different needs of different people, segregation, shunning and ostracism will never be fair or just.


As Jesus realized he had been bested by the woman's courage, persistence and native intelligence, we must hear the cry of the poor just to avoid humiliation!


I think Jesus laughed at the woman's retort and at himself as he pronounced his verdict, "Let it be done as you wish." Recognizing when we are wrong, we can wipe the egg off our faces and do the right thing. It's really not that hard.