Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
“ Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish”
Overview
It’s not about us. It never was.
After the return from exile, the people of God had fierce debates about how to build their future. For some (e.g. Ezra and Nehemiah), it was all about them, they wanted to be holy, pure and observant and they wanted to include only other holy, pure and observant people in the new Israel. For Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, it was not about us, it was about God. In our first reading the prophet argues passionately for God’s inclusion of all people: “Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides.”
Who was in and who was out, who was worthy and who unworthy continued to be a source of debate. And, in our gospel reading, Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus at first dismisses the Canaanite woman because he “was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yet, he ends up praising her faith.
The foreigners and outcasts shown grace in Isaiah’s vision are those who “keep the Sabbath … and hold fast to my covenant” but the Canaanite woman does not argue that she is worthy, she does not claim that she deserves God’s grace. She is not trusting in her own righteousness, it’s not about her. It’s about God. She trusts that God’s grace is wide enough to include everyone, even the dogs who gather up the crumbs under the table.
If it not about us and it is all about God then no one deserves a place at the table, it is all gift and grace.
This beautiful, funny story tells us to get over ourselves. More than this is asks us to actively use our place to make space for others. Like Jesus, we cannot do this at a distance, we cannot throw crumbs from the table. We need to get up close and personal and offer the one bread we all share.
FIRST READING
Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Thus says the Lord:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come
and my deliverance be revealed.
And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath and do not profane it
and hold fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar,
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.
Thus says the Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel:
I will gather others to them
besides those already gathered.
GOSPEL
Matthew 15:21-28
Jesus went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.
