First reading: Is. 56:1,6–7

Thus says the LORD: Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.

The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants—all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Second reading: Rom. 11:13–15,29–32

Brothers and sisters: I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.

Gospel: Mt. 15:21–28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

In other words

Fr. Xene Sanchez, SVD (University of San Carlos, Cebu City)

The world was shocked. The Yazidistes of Iraq, whose religion goes back more than 4000 years ago, much older than Christianity and Islam, were exterminated by the Jihadists, tagging them as “devil-worshippers.” On the other hand, the Yazidistes have stoned to death a woman of their own because she fell in love with a Muslim boy. Ethnocentrism and fanaticism kill.

Today’s Gospel touches on this issue of race and beliefs. Jesus was walking in the regions of Tyre and Sidon (now in Lebanon). When he sent the disciples to their first mission, he instructed: “Do not turn your steps to pagan territory… go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel” (Mt 10:5–6).

A Canaanite woman came and asked for help. The people of Israel hated her people. They were pagans who tempted them to abandon “Yahweh” in favor of “Baal,” their god of fertility, associating sex and agriculture. As she approached, Jesus was impersonating Israel.

• First, Jesus ignored the Canaanite woman begging for help. If we interrupt our reading at this point, we risk considering Jesus a snub!
• Second, the disciples intervened, asking Jesus to send her away. Jesus said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” If we stop here, we surmise that Jesus was a blind nationalist. But the narrative continued.
• Third, the woman herself came close to Jesus: “Lord, help me.” Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” At this stage, Jesus appeared to be a proud, fanatic religious leader, a racist, and an exclusivist.

Jesus’ actions and words reflected the popular thoughts and sayings of the Jews at that time. During Jesus’ time, dogs were mostly stray and dirty animals, contrary to our dogs today! Pagans are dogs. Jesus quoted a saying used to discriminate against other races not belonging to the Jews.

• Fourth, the woman, using the analogy of the “dog,” pleaded for her cause: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

Jesus was touched with admiration: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” The woman passed the test! The daughter was healed. The woman-stranger was a model of humility and perseverance in faith. And the message goes further. It speaks of the universality of faith and humankind. Isaiah already announced that foreigners would join the Lord and minister to him; his House “shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” Paul, the ardent persecutor of Christians, was converted into an Apostle to the Gentiles, who all became brothers and sisters.