Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman came from that region and cried out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David!

 

At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman came from that region and cried out, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed!” 23 But Jesus did not answer her a word. Then his disciples came and pleaded with him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” 24 Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” 25 But the woman came and fell down before Jesus and begged him, “Lord, help me!” 26 Jesus said to her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 The woman insisted, “Yes, Lord; but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Jesus said to her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish!” And her daughter was healed from that moment.

— Word of Salvation.

Reflection

I have often spoken about the way Jesus has acted in history by mingling with humanity, enabling it to follow in His footsteps toward its liberation. Jesus was born a Jew, preached to Jews, but, according to today’s episode, also opened His ministry to pagans. That is why the first important thing to be observed in the text is Jesus’ entry into pagan territory, after making it clear that impurity comes from within man. With this, He challenges precisely the Jewish thinking regarding impurity in regard to certain foods, diseases, and foreign people considered impious and idolatrous. Jesus’ very presence in a pagan environment indicates the confirmation of His teachings: the interior of man is the place both of encounter with God and of his own misfortune. In the text above, Jesus reveals His inner self, completely turned toward the Father and toward the good of humanity.

The woman of Greek religious culture and Syrophoenician nationality represents the pagan community of Matthew and Mark. The text of Matthew emphasizes, among other things, the “cry” of this pagan woman, the messianic connection between Jesus and David, and a certain “indifference” of Jesus, assured by His disciples. It is, in fact, a process of true conversion and demand and courage to face the obstacles to the fulfillment of the person in God. Two things emerge from this figure: first, she becomes aware of her condition as a “little dog,” according to the diminutive used by the evangelists Matthew and Mark. She knows that, according to Jewish thought, she has no right to anything that belongs to the Jewish world. Jesus reminds her of this, makes her aware of this reality. What she would like to receive, in this sense, would be impossible. Second, she demonstrates a deep trust in Jesus, turning completely to Him, humbling herself out of necessity and the certainty of the power that shines through the person of the Master: "The dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables." She is content with the rest, as long as He comes to satisfy her needs. Jesus is enchanted by the woman's humble response and, even though he is far from the possessed woman, he fulfills the mother's wish, freeing her daughter.

Jesus' mission is inaugurated in advance by Himself. What was reserved only for after Pentecost now has its beginning and missionary indication. The disciples, who were alone with Jesus for greater learning, had, through this situation, the realization of Jesus' teachings about what is pure and impure, emphasizing the heart as the place of the greatest decision. Jesus is amazed by the woman's faith, humility and self-giving. In fact, He is saying that the entire Church, that every baptized man and woman should behave in the same way, in total abandonment in the hands of God and openness to the action of the Holy Spirit, so that all may be conformed to the Risen Christ.

Acting in the world, disciples must recognize in each person not the difference in culture, but what is excellent in each person. It is important to remember that all people were created by God, and for this reason they have their marks, signs of His love, truth and faithfulness. The other, the one who does not yet know Jesus Christ, is not a child of the Devil, but a child of God in the order of creation. He may even live in idolatry, but this does not mean that he should be despised, or even more so, led to death, because one sinner has no power over another, since both are guilty of death because of sin. On the contrary, the proclamation of the Truth must be made according to love and recognition of the importance of the other and his or her story. True transformation will only happen when the other person is enchanted by the message being proclaimed and humbly desires it as the only treasure in his or her life. Whoever has truly encountered the Word of God and the Law of freedom (cf. James 1:22, 25) and seeks to put them into practice is on the road to salvation, even if he or she is groping around in the world.