Dogs today are known as ‘Man’s best friend’. There are many different breeds of dogs and even more dogs of mixed breeds often termed as mutts. Dogs are used for protection, for search and rescue, for companionship and even as eyes for the blind. Throughout Western literature, there are numerous stories featuring the heroics of dogs. So when Americans read the gospel reading for today some of us may not quite comprehend that Jesus’ reference to the Canaanite woman as a dog is not a flattering term. In fact, dogs in Jesus’ time and place did not have the high stature that dogs in America and Europe do today.
Another cultural difference is the fact that women of Jesus’ day were looked upon as property. A woman in public, who was making a scene, was an affront to Jewish society. A Gentile woman in public making a scene was totally unacceptable, because Gentiles were looked down upon by the Jews as animals. Thus the Canaanite woman was labeled with a double stigma; both as a woman and as a Gentile.
Even so, this remains a troubling passage for those of us of Gentile heritage to read. When we think about Jesus, we envision someone who is accepting of all peoples of every race and creed. Does not our Episcopal Church sign read, “All are welcome”? If we are honest with ourselves, the story of the Canaanite woman seems to border on prejudice and even bigotry on the part of Jesus. Through our modern lenses, we might even be appalled at the seemingly subservient response given by the Canaanite woman to Jesus, because she agrees with Jesus that she is only a dog. Yet, if this is all we get from this gospel story then we have missed the entire reason for this story being included in the Bible as good news.
The story begins with a distraught Gentile mother crying out to Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus’ response is to ignore this woman. Apparently this doesn’t stop the woman, because she is on a mission. When Jesus ignores her, then she yells at the disciples. The disciples, who are unable to quiet her down, go to Jesus and ask for His help in getting her to stop shouting. Notice Jesus’ reply to his disciples. Jesus tells them, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Jesus’ mission to earth was to be God’s witness of His Love and Salvation for the chosen people. Jesus was the Annointed One, the Messiah. The One of whom the prophets had told would come and deliver Israel from her oppressors. Jesus was the Jews’ confirmation to the nations that they were God’s chosen people, because Jesus was born a Jew. He was of the House of David, the Shepherd King.
Knowing this, the Gentile mother refused to give up. Instead, she believed Jesus to be her only hope for getting her daughter healed. The love of a mother is powerful thing. It transcends social status. It gives hope where there is no hope. It overcomes fear with courage. This is what Jesus saw in the bold action of this Gentile woman who refused to be ignored, who refused to be turned away, who refused to give up hope. Instead of walking away, this Gentile mother forced her way through the crowd and knelt at Jesus’ feet and pleaded, “Lord, help me.”
There are times in our own lives, when we are faced with the impossible. When the world tells us there is no hope. When it may seem like there is no place to turn. It is in those moments of our darkest despair that the Lord can be found. We may have to push through the obstacles that confront us and try to hold us back, but if we persist, if we continue to cry out our plea, the Lord will hear us just as He did the Canaanite woman.
The gospel reading from Matthew according to the contemporary translation of The Message reads, 25”Then the woman came back to Jesus, went to her knees, and begged. "Master, help me."
26He said, "It's not right to take bread out of children's mouths and throw it to dogs."
27She was quick: "You're right, Master, but beggar dogs do get scraps from the master's table."
28Jesus gave in. "Oh, woman, your faith is something else. What you want is what you get!" Right then her daughter became well.”
Because the Gentile mother refused to give up hope and persisted in taking her pleas to the Lord, she was rewarded. This is the good news of this message for us today in that no matter how bleak the circumstances are. No matter how difficult the problem is. If we but take it to the Lord we will find peace.
The Canaanite woman knew that Jesus was sent to the Jews. Yet, she was willing to receive just a fragment, just a tiny portion of the Lord’s blessing; because she believed that was more than enough to heal her child. It is her amazing faith that took Jesus by surprise. He could not resist granting this mother her heart’s desire. Such love, such persistence, such faith, could not be overlooked by Jesus. The Gentile mother went home with a testimony of the impossible becoming the possible.
In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, he reminds the Gentiles how blessed they are to be included in the blessings of the Messiah. Of the Jews’ rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, he writes, “ Because my personal assignment is focused on the so-called outsiders, I make as much of this as I can when I'm among my Israelite kin, the so-called insiders, hoping they'll realize what they're missing and want to get in on what God is doing. If their falling out initiated this worldwide coming together, their recovery is going to set off something even better: mass homecoming! If the first thing the Jews did, even though it was wrong for them, turned out for your good, just think what's going to happen when they get it right!”
It is only because the Jews rejected Jesus that we who are Gentiles can come before the throne of God no longer as dogs, but as joint heirs of the descendants of Abraham. Of this St. Paul writes in his letter to the Galatians, “Just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, 7so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’ 9For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.”
It is by the grace of God that we who are Gentiles, not physical descendants of Abraham nor Jews by conversion to Judaism that we are recipients of the blessings of the Messiah. Knowing that this state of grace was offered to us because of the rejection of those to whom Jesus first came, we are no longer dogs in the kingdom of God, but now God’s children. How much more are we indebted to God’s mercy? Like the Canaanite woman, we need to be on our knees in humble adoration that the Lord God has looked with loving kindness upon us who are so blessed to be included in God’s salvation plan.
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