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A Prayer for Pentecost 9
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Holy One of Israel, covenant-keeper, you restore what is lost, heal what is wounded, and gather in those who have been rejected. Give us the faith to speak as steadfastly as did the Canaanite woman, that the outcast may be welcomed and all people may be blessed. Amen. (RCL Prayers, p. 174)
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Just-A-Minute - For the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
August 14, 2011
This is the only case in the gospels where someone else--and a woman, at that--gets the best of Jesus. Here is the "Lectionary 20" Gospel, Matthew 15:21-28.
Jesus left that place and 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 instantly. |
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Questions for Discussion- In Matthew's narrative, Jesus restricts his ministry to the people of Israel, and thus refuses to respond to the plea of a non-Jewish woman. Matthew's community, however, was in the business of sharing the Gospel with Gentiles. A story like this would have given them "permission" to do so. How does this incident inform our church's mission today?
- Jesus clearly insulted the woman by comparing her to a dog, rather than to a human child. Are you surprised to find Jesus so insulting? Why?
- Some take the woman as an example of humility. Others see her as an example of trusting faith. Does she serve as an example for you? If so, would you be inclined to imitate her humility, or her faith? Or both?
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