The Canaanite woman was considered an outcast in the eyes of the children of Israel, a Gentile. Since most Christians today are not converted Jews, she represents us. And still, most Christians think that WE are now the chosen people of God. Chosen by God in our baptism to be God’s children. We’ve effectively displaced the Jews, we Christians are the new chosen of God. Now that we are the true children who have the Bread to ourselves, the story fits us even better. But Jesus leaves the homeland and ventures into the land of the outcasts. Why does he do that? Why does he leave the hallowed halls of our tradition to be around outcasts? I thought he said he would be with us always. Yet we find him among the outcasts.
Who are the outcasts in the eyes of Christians today?
(1) Unbelievers - who reject traditional understanding of the biblical narrative and reject blind adherence to scriptural demands. (2) The poor - if you can’t pull yourself up with self-discipline and will power, there must be something wrong with you. No free lunches are served these days. (3) Sinners – who the righteous determine are not following specific rules of the Bible. Maybe these are the outcasts today. If they don’t meet our rights of initiation, and conform to our rules, they don’t deserve our Jesus.
And yet, Jesus goes to where the outcasts live. The only advertising Jesus needs is word of mouth. People heard he was kind. He was able to help them. He was willing to help them. Imagine how churches might look on Sunday mornings today if sinners in need of healing, forgiveness, heard that the church was kind, and able to help, and willing to help…without conditions attached.
Three times the woman approached Jesus. She trusted the witness of others who had told her that Jesus was kind, and willing to help. She trusted and desired it so much that she endured his silence, his timing that wasn’t her timing, and even being told that she was not one of the chosen – not one of the original children set aside to receive God’s blessing and promise. She still trusted the testimony of others that he was good, and desired to help people in need regardless that she didn’t qualify by the religious rules. She claimed the goodness of God she heard was in him. And she was not disappointed.
Trust the witness of the New Testament that tells us God is love – kind, able, and willing to help us if we call in Jesus’ name. This changes my life. How can I not serve him? How can I live in ways that do not please him? I work harder at it if I trust the goodness of the One who loves me.
Blessings - PWM
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