20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time. August 20, 2017 [Matthew 15:21-28]

“Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters (Mat 15:27)”

Why does Jesus, the compassionate man and just God, have to “humiliate” the Canaanite woman? If we put ourselves in the context of Jesus’ time and culture, we will understand that what Jesus does is just expected of him. Jesus is dealing with a woman of gentile origin. Generally, Jews avoid contacts with the non-Jews, and a Jewish man does not engage in dialogue with a woman who is not his wife or family in public. Jesus does what every Jewish man has to do. However, in the end, Jesus praises the woman’s faith and heals her daughter. Eventually, mercy overcomes differences and love conquers all.

How big is this woman’s faith? If we carefully read the dialogue between Jesus and the Canaanite woman, there are three stages of humiliation. Firstly, the woman cries out loudly to Jesus, addressing him as Lord, Son of David, and asks for pity for her daughter. Jesus ignores her.  Secondly, the woman keeps crying out, and Jesus refuses her with a reason that he is sent only to the Jews. Thirdly, the woman touches the ground and worships Jesus, begging for the life of her daughter. Jesus associates her with a dog, perhaps because the relationship between the Jews and the Gentile in this region has become so sour that they call each other as dogs. Yet, despite these series of humiliation, the woman perseveres and wittily answers that even dogs receive mercy from their master. There is a progression of humiliation, yet there is also progression of humility and faith. From someone outside the group, she persistently makes her way inside to the point of ‘under the table’ of her master.

What inspires such great humility and faith? I believe that it is her far greater love. She is not just a woman and a Canaanite, she is also a mother. We know good parents, especially a mother, would do practically anything for their children. There is a natural bond between a mother and the child of her womb, a bond that empowers a woman to even sacrifice her life. Jesus allows this humiliation because He knows well the capacity of this mother to love. God allows things to get messy in our lives, because He knows well our capacity to love which can grow exponentially.

Let me end this little reflection with a story. on the day of graduation in one of the top universities in the Philippines, a young man, top of his batch, gave his valedictory remarks. He narrated a story of a young woman who was expecting a child. Yet, she was diagnosed with a dangerous illness that required aggressive treatments. The medication may cure her, but it will be too strong for the infant inside her womb.  So, she was left with a choice either to choose her life or her baby’s. Many encouraged her to let the baby die since she has a bright future, a promising career. Yet, to the surprise of all, she decided not to take the medication, and allowed her baby live. Trusting to her baby to her husband, she died after giving birth to a healthy little Babyboy. Then, with teary eyes, the young valedictorian revealed to all that he was that little baby. He is able to live, to grow, and achieve his dream because his mother loved him so much to the point of giving her own life for him.

We remember and thank our mothers who have loved and sacrificed a lot for us. And just like them, God calls us to have faith and love that make us bigger than our small lives.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP