A reading from the Holy Gospel according to the Apostle and Evangelist Saint Matthew (Mt 15,2128)
Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed." But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, "Send her away, for she cries out after us."
But He answered and said, "I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, help me!"
But He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." And she said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."
Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Reflection
Dear beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, to you all peace and blessing!
On this seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, the Church invites us to reflect on two readings: the Second Letter of St Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians and the Gospel passage of St Matthew. Although these two readings are not directly related in their narrative, they still share important spiritual and moral teachings.
In his Second Letter to the Corinthians (2 Cr 6:16-7:1), the Apostle Paul seeks to teach important spiritual and moral principles to Christians residing in the city of Corinth. This passage contains an appeal to unity among believers and to the importance of living a holy life separated from what is impure. Here is a more detailed explanation of what Paul wanted to teach:
1. The call to separation: Paul begins the passage by saying: "What agreement is there between the temple of God and the idols?" Here Paul emphasizes the importance of separation between believers and what is impure or idolatrous. He wants the Corinthians to recognize their identity as the living temple of God and to abstain from all that is contrary to the divine will.
2. The promise of God’s presence: Paul goes on to say that God will dwell among them and be their God, while they will be His people. This recalls the promise of the Covenant in the Old Testament, pointing out that when believers separate from the unclean and consecrate themselves to God, they can experience His presence and His love.
3. The call to purity and holiness: Paul exhorts the Corinthians to purify themselves from all contamination of the flesh and spirit, carrying out the work of sanctification. This sanctification implies a life of righteousness, honesty, and separation from sins and moral corruption.
4. Repentance and the quest for perfection: Paul encourages the Corinthians to "complete your sanctification in the fear of God." This recalls the idea of repentance and continual spiritual growth. The apostle wants the Corinthians to pursue spiritual perfection and growth in their relationship with God.
In summary, Saint Paul wanted to teach the Corinthians the importance of separation from what is impure and the importance of living a life of holiness and purity, consecrating oneself as the dwelling place of God. The central message is the call to a life of faith and sanctification, maintaining an intimate relationship with God and moving away from all that is contrary to His will.
Instead, in the Gospel passage that we have heard this Sunday, the Evangelist and Apostle Saint Matthew narrates the encounter between the Lord and the Canaanite woman.
In this passage, Jesus initially seems to ignore the Canaanite woman when she asks for her help in freeing her demon-possessed daughter. However, at his insistence and demonstration of faith, Jesus grants healing to the woman’s daughter. The answer of Jesus, "It is not good to take the bread of the children and throw it to the dogs", may seem hard, but the Canaanite woman responds with wisdom saying that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters. Jesus, struck by his faith and humility, praises her by healing the girl.
This episode is often interpreted as an example of the universal scope of Jesus' message and his willingness to respond to sincere faith, regardless of the person’s background or social status. The Canaanite woman thus represents the ability of faith to break down cultural and religious barriers and also demonstrates that Salvation is not limited to a specific group or nation but is open to all who believe in Him.
Dear friends, what does this passage of the Gospel want to teach us? It wants to teach us several spiritual and moral lessons:
1. Jesus' accessibility to all: In this episode, Jesus shows that his ministry is not limited to one community or group of people. Initially, he seems to be focused only on the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," but when the Canaanite woman turns to him with faith, he shows that he is willing to listen and help even those who are not part of his people of origin. This teaching emphasizes the accessibility of Jesus to all, regardless of their origin.
2. Faith as key: The Canaanite woman shows extraordinary faith and remarkable perseverance in her request. Despite Jesus' apparent brusque responses, she continues to implore his help. This passage emphasizes the importance of faith as a means of receiving God’s mercy and grace. Jesus praised his faith and humility, demonstrating that sincere faith is a precious attribute.
3. The importance of humility: The Canaanite woman prostrates herself before Jesus and even accepts the image of herself as a "little dog" in Jesus' response. His humility is an example of how we must approach God, recognizing our dependence on him and his sovereignty. Jesus teaches that humility is a fundamental attitude to receive his grace.
4. The mercy of God: At the end of the episode, Jesus grants healing to the daughter of the Canaanite woman because of her faith. This highlights God’s mercy, which is not based on merit or belonging to a specific group but is extended to anyone who has faith and sincerely turns to Him.
This Gospel passage teaches us that Jesus is accessible to all, that faith is a key element for receiving God’s grace, that humility is important in approaching God and that God is merciful and ready to answer sincere prayers.
Over the centuries, many Fathers of the Church have commented on this passage. Among the most famous are Saint John Chrysostom, Origen, and Saint Ambrose:
Saint John Chrysostom (347-407) commented on this passage, stressing the extraordinary faith of the Canaanite woman and her perseverance in prayer. He writes:
"She came first and looked for him. After being rejected and hearing: 'It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs', she did not say: 'Then you have no reason to call yourself the Son of David', but she replied: 'Even the dogs eat crumbs that fall from their masters' table. [...] See how she never lost hope and uttered insolent words against her healer".
Origen (185-254) provided an allegorical interpretation of this passage, seeing the Canaanite woman as a symbol of gentle souls seeking salvation. He writes:
"This woman came to adore and seek the Saviour; and this is the reason why Jesus welcomed her, because he showed to seek his help".
Saint Ambrose of Milan (339-397) highlighted the humility of the Canaanite woman and the fact that Jesus accepted her supplication because of his faith. He stressed the importance of humility and faith as prerequisites for obtaining divine grace.
Dear brothers and sisters, last Wednesday we celebrated the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross of Our Lord and on this Sunday the theme of the Cross returns.
The Evangelist narrates the encounter of Jesus with the Canaanite woman who hides a significant link with the theme of the cross and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. While not directly referring to the crucifixion of Jesus, this passage provides an important theological context that relates to the meaning of the cross and universal inclusion in the work of redemption.
Here are some ways in which the passage binds to the cross:
1. Universality of salvation: The Canaanite woman represents non-Jews; therefore, this episode highlights the opening of Jesus' message of salvation to all nations, in tune with the message of the cross that is destined for all humanity.
2. Welcome of all: Jesus, in the end, welcomes the woman’s supplication and heals his daughter. This represents the heart of the teaching of the cross, which is the welcome and healing for all who believe in Jesus Christ.
3. Faith and perseverance: The faith of the Canaanite woman and her perseverance in asking for help reflect the theme of faith and perseverance in believing in the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross. Faith is crucial to receiving the salvation offered through the cross.
4. Humility and submission to God’s will: The humble attitude of the Canaanite woman, who even accepts the image of herself as a "dog", is a call to humility and submission to God’s will.
This is a fundamental element in understanding the meaning of the cross, in which Jesus humbled himself for humanity and accepted God’s will to sacrifice himself for our redemption.
Dear beloved brothers, the cross is important for us who profess to be Christians.
It is redemption and forgiveness of sins. In fact, it represents the center of faith because it is the place where Jesus Christ offered himself as a sacrifice in ransom of our sins. For this reason, the cross represents how God offers salvation to all humanity.
How can we apply this Gospel in everyday life?
Today’s passage can be applied in everyday life through various key teachings and principles. Here are some considerations on how you can accomplish this step in daily life:
1. Perseverance in prayer: The Canaanite woman in history has shown extraordinary faith and perseverance in prayer, despite seemingly negative initial challenges and responses. In everyday life, we can learn to cultivate a solid faith and to persevere in prayer, even when it seems that our demands are not immediately met.
2. Humility and submission: The humble attitude of the Canaanite woman is an important teaching. We can apply it by practicing humility in our relationships with others and in our relationship with God. Humility helps us recognize our dependence on God and accept His will in our lives.
3. Available for welcome: The story emphasizes Jesus' openness to the request of the Canaanite woman, despite cultural and religious barriers. We can apply this teaching by trying to be open and welcoming to those who are different from us, showing love and compassion without discrimination.
In general, the Evangelist invites us to cultivate a deep faith, to be humble, open and merciful, and to persevere in prayer. These principles can positively influence our daily lives and our interactions with others, allowing us to live according to the values of the Gospel.
Therefore, this Sunday let us pray to the Holy Spirit, Giver of Life, so that he may enlighten our minds, our hearts and guide our steps towards all the people we meet every day, anyone in need of help or support, regardless of their origin or background. Let us pray to the Comforter to help us improve our work to promote unity and solidarity in our community of faith, seeking to overcome the cultural, ethnic, or social barriers that may exist.
Let us pray to Mary Most Holy, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, that she may encourage the members of the community to cultivate a strong faith and to persevere in prayer.
Let us pray to the Most Chaste Bride and all holy, so that she may guide us on our journey in following the example of humility of Jesus and of the Canaanite woman. Humbly accepting to respond to people’s needs with kindness and compassion.
Blessed and always Virgin Mary, Mother of God, today welcome all our supplications: help us to be a model of Christian love, transform us so that we become ever more willing to help all those in need, to comfort the suffering without receiving anything in return.
All of you Saints and Saints of God, remaining at our side, despite all the falls we make along the way, and with the power of the Paraclete, let us succeed in spreading the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Inviting others to put their faith in Him and to seek His mercy and love.
May the Lord’s blessing come upon you and remain with you always!
Archdeacon Michele Alberto Del Duca
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