Wednesday 8 August
(Memorial) St Dominic • Matthew 15:21-28
Women were second-class citizens in the ancient world. They could not vote or appear on a jury or own property and, if widowed, had no means of supporting themselves financially. Furthermore, in first-century Palestine, non-Jewish women, Gentiles, were especially loathed and despised. These were harsh times for women, and, God knows, even today in many countries such archaic and profoundly unjust attitudes prevail. Of course, in our own country it was only at the turn of the twentieth century that women were given the vote, after much hardship, protest and self-sacrifice.
Why women have been treated so badly throughout history is hard to pin down or figure out. Women, after all, bear and rear children; they are homemakers. Many have also risen up to be amazing leaders. Before God, we are all equal and, indeed, in Christ there is no male or female for we are all one in him (Gal. 3:28).
However, it has to be said that in today’s reading the Lord himself appears to be rather harsh and perfunctory towards the Canaanite woman. Indeed, he goes as far as to call her a ‘dog’: ‘It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to their dogs’ (v. 26). Her response is incredible for its wisdom and humility: ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table’ (v. 27). For this she is richly rewarded and her daughter is healed.
What can we learn from this ourselves? What can we glean from it? Why Jesus responded apparently so harshly to this woman is hard to understand. However, we see how he transcended the culture of the day by recognizing her great faith and also her great humility. Maybe that’s the point.
This Gentile woman’s witness speaks to every generation, teaching us that humility and faith go together and that faith is richly rewarded by the Lord. The contemplative Thomas Merton said, ‘Ultimately faith is the only key to the universe. The final meaning of human existence and the answers to the questions on which all our happiness depends cannot be found in any other way.’
Lord, may I emulate the faith of the Canaanite woman in the way that she was so full of humility, so full of gratitude and so courageous in her approach to you.
Jeremiah 31:1-7 • Jeremiah 31:10-13
Matthew 15:21-28
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