Even From the Scraps

This week’s Gospel from St. Matthew is not an easy one to accept. It almost seems that Jesus is calling a non-Jew a dog. On the surface that would seem so, but that is not what Jesus meant or what he was seeking to accomplish. Rather, Jesus was trying to teach us true faith, one that is based on - from front to end and permeated with humility.

The Canaanite woman (a non-Jew) approaches Jesus asking him to heal her sick daughter. Jesus responds that one is not supposed to throw the food of the children of Israel to dogs. He states his mission is to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The woman could have done a few things here. One) she could have simply walked away, dejected and defeated, but she does not. Two) she could have let Jesus have it and respond by saying, “How dare you call me a dog!” Three) Or, as she did, she could humble herself and persist in asking Jesus for his help.

Her response is, “Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters’ tables.” Her response is honest, humble, and even courageous. We have to remember there are people watching her; the disciples are there, others who were following Jesus and others who may have gathered. So, her response was not done in private, but public – therefore courageous. She admits she is not a Jew, but she admits something even better, she is a woman of faith, for only faith could have led her to humble herself. She is also stating that she is ok with leftovers, because even the leftovers from God are filled with grace, and grace is grace, whether it comes now or later.

Jesus finally responds, “Your faith has saved your daughter.” This story was not just for the woman and her daughter, but also for all the Jews who were present to teach them true faith – faith that is humble and a faith that perseveres. The story is also for us, so that our faith will also be humble and one that perseveres.

Points for our reflection are; do we expect things from God? Do we feel that we deserve anything from God? Does God owe us the first serving so-to-speak? “No,” he does not owe us anything. Pride is the root of all evil, because it gives us a sense of entitlement. The woman had no sense of entitlement; rather she was satisfied to receive grace even when it was falling from the table like leftovers for a pet. How close are we to that kind of faith? Jesus wants our faith to be like that of the Canaanite woman. It is not easy to have that kind of faith, but through prayer, the sacrament of confession, the Eucharist, and our fellowship with one another we can move towards it. We have taken the right step already, since we are here to receive our Lord, and we are content to receive be first or last, be it the best serving or even like the scraps that fall from the Mater’s table.

Fr. John