In today’s Gospel Jesus is in the Gentile territory of Tyre. He encounters a non-Jewish woman, “a Greek, a Syrophoenician woman.” She begs Jesus to heal her daughter who is possessed by a demon. Jesus first reaction is uncharacteristically off-putting: “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” This woman will not be dissuaded and challenges Jesus: “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”
Jesus is both fully human and fully divine. Since he is fully human, he must discern what is God’s will and way. Like any other human, Jesus does not wish to die on the cross: “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” (Mark 14:36). In Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman, we see his “humanness” and his religious or cultural blinders. At first his see his mission and that of his disciples as restricted to his fellow Jews:
“Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6).
“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24).
God speaks through this Syrophoenician woman to help Jesus to discern that his mission is to all people and all nations. This was the message of the prophet Simeon when Mary and Jesus presented Jesus in the Temple:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32).
Jesus’ mission is to all people; his light is for both Israel and the Gentiles. In the great commissioning at the end of the Gospel of Matthew Jesus sends his apostles out on this universal mission:
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Like Jesus, you and I are called to discern God’s will and overcome our religious or cultural blinders. Jesus has taught us how to discern and to do God’s will and so we pray: “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done.”
Image: “Lord, Help Me” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.