The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today anticipate the joy of being welcomed where we once were rejected and challenge us to openness in acceptance of the prompting of the Spirit to build families based on faith in truth, goodness, and love.
In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, he proclaims the Joyful Return of the Exiles.
* [31:2–3] Jeremiah describes the exiles of the Northern Kingdom on their way home from the nations where the Assyrians had resettled them (722/721 B.C.). The favor they discover in the wilderness is the appearance of the Lord (v. 3) coming to guide them to Jerusalem. Implicit in these verses is the presentation of the people’s return from captivity as a second exodus, a unifying theme in Second Isaiah (chaps. 40–55). (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31 | USCCB, n.d.)
The response from Jeremiah declares the Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus responds to the Canaanite Woman’s Faith.
* [15:21–28] See note on Mt 8:5–13.
* [15:24] See note on Mt 10:5–6.
* [15:26] The children: the people of Israel. Dogs: see note on Mt 7:6.
* [15:28] As in the case of the cure of the centurion’s servant (Mt 8:10), Matthew ascribes Jesus’ granting the request to the woman’s great faith, a point not made equally explicit in the Marcan parallel (Mk 7:24–30). (Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J. asks us to imagine the shock of the disciples, as Jesus abandons their excuses for indifference, and celebrates the faith of a "foreigner." It must have been so profound that they saved this story, as they shared the good news of Jesus' life and ministry, and Jesus' example which missions us today.
This gospel can offer us the grace to turn to Jesus today with our deepest needs. Nothing in any one of us is "foreign" to him. No sin, no bad judgement, no addiction, no sorrow, no fear, no doubt, no irregularity, places me outside of the compassionate love of his healing heart.
This is an opportunity to disregard the voices within us, or around us, which might discourage us from coming to Jesus with faith. His response will always be, "Of course, I am here for you." Our faith lets us encounter his mercy and healing. And, his compassion becomes the hallmark of disciples who have come to know his love. (Alexander, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “The Mother of the Gentiles,” by Epiphanius the Latin (late 5th century).
"After our Lord departed from the Jews, he came into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. He left the Jews behind and came to the Gentiles. Those whom he had left behind remained in ruin; those to whom he came obtained salvation in their alienation. And a woman came out of that territory and cried, saying to him, 'Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David!' O great mystery! The Lord came out from the Jews, and the woman came out from her Gentile territory. He left the Jews behind, and the woman left behind idolatry and an impious lifestyle. What they had lost, she found. The one whom they had denied in the law, she professed through her faith. This woman is the mother of the Gentiles, and she knew Christ through faith. Thus on behalf of her daughter (the Gentile people) she entreated the Lord. The daughter had been led astray by idolatry and sin and was severely possessed by a demon." (excerpt from INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPELS 58) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28 asks “Why ask the Spirit what he wants?“ Because as we’re having compassion on ourselves for needing a break, we can’t forget the compassion God calls us to have on the people around us. After all, even Jesus changed his plans when people came to him (Matthew 15:28). As we ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, he might invite us to set aside our plans and respond to the needs of those he has put in front of us.
God is pleased when we follow his promptings to accept interruptions the way he did. He will pour out extra grace so that we can rise to meet whatever challenges we’re facing. So the next time someone disturbs you when you’re trying to take a break, put aside your frustration and ask the Spirit if he is giving you an opportunity to love others the way he loves you.
“Jesus, give me your heart of compassion!” (Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the destruction of Jerusalem followed by restoration of the people in the passage from Jeremiah. When Jesus is in pagan territory, the disciples want a Canaanite woman seeking health for her daughter to go away. Friar Jude reminds us that sometimes our privilege causes us to take God for granted and ignore the faith that comes from unexpected people.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Palestinian Christian pastor Dr. Munther Isaac who reflects on what it means for his family and faith to endure injustice.
A theology from behind the wall is concerned with day-to-day issues in Palestine. We are preoccupied with issues of life under occupation, injustice, nonviolence, religious extremism, and peacemaking. We talk about identity and nationality. We do not write theology in libraries; we write it at the checkpoint. We bring Christ in dialogue with the checkpoint. We simply ask, What would Jesus say or do if he were to stand in front of the wall today? What would he say or do if he were to stand at a checkpoint today for five or six meaningless hours? What would his message be to the Palestinian trying to cross it and to the Israeli soldiers stopping them?
My ancestors have been living in this land for hundreds of years. For me and my family, the Holy Land is “home.” We belong to this land, and we have been part of its story. The reality I grew up in is one of conflict and oppression. My family has lost land, and I have seen loved ones emigrate from the land and witnessed others forced to leave.…
Palestine today is fractured by settlements, walls, and checkpoints. It is also plagued by religious extremism and violence. Will this land I call “home” become a place where God can be experienced? Can it become a place where the justice and peace of God reign? Can it become a place where Jews, Muslims, and Christians share the land and its resources, have the same rights, and embrace each other as fellow human beings and be reconciled with one another? (Rohr, n.d.)
In the decisions we encounter on our journey, the challenge of the slogan “What would Jesus do?” (WWJD) is often most difficult in questions involving family. The Spirit reveals the answer to our question is in love, compassion, mercy, and inclusion.
References
Alexander, A. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/080724.html
Jeremiah, CHAPTER 31 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/31?
Matthew, CHAPTER 15 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/15?21
Meditation on Matthew 15:21-28. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/07/1043188/
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Suffering in the Holy Land. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/suffering-in-the-holy-land/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug7
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