Isaiah 56.1,6-7・Psalm 67. 2+3, 4;5, 7+8・Romans 11.13-15, 29-32;・Matthew 15.21-28
JESUS CARES FOR ALL
… no signs of abandonment
In today`s readings, we are called to strengthen our trust and confidence in God`s love and mercy, guidance and providence, no matter how some things in our daily life seems in contrary. The world`s reality, with both our common and individual unique experiences, may seemingly indicate abandonment, maybe a sabotage of/to what we believe about a God who cares (a caring God). Maybe with different forms of inevitable sicknesses, as well as accidents brought about by either human error or brought about by natural calamities, there is a perennial questioning about how and why God allows this kind of world, and why He allows many to suffer this way.
While this similar question may remain and may seem to be unanswerable, ours is faith and persistence (perseverance in prayer). Let us better understand that perseverance in prayer means more than having what we ask(ed) for, but having a heart pure and honest in asking help to see clearly what God wants for us (understand what is truly the best for us). Our hope is to have peace and wellness in being in harmony with/to God`s will.
We find in our Gospel reading today conversations in maybe two different point of emphases. One is that of the Canaanite woman and Jesus, which emphasizes a lesson on the importance of faith and perseverance, and total trust in Jesus who cares for all. So we get here the affirmation that Jesus cares not just for a few selected individuals, or groups, or communities. This is in contrary to Jesus` pronouncement to his disciples that He is sent only for the lost sheep of Israel. He (Jesus) even restated similar pronouncements directly to the Canaanite woman. The Canaanite women never gave up though, because of her confidence and total trust in Jesus. A Canaanite woman knowing who Jesus really is must have revealed to the disciples too the reason why there were seemingly contradictory pronouncements at the onset. In here we are being led to understand today`s liturgy`s another point of emphases, in which we are called to participate.
Another point of emphasis can be found in a short but appealing conversation between Jesus disciples and Jesus Himself. The emphasis must be on the necessity of commissioning the disciples for the proclamation of the Word to the world. Jesus was seemingly passive and did not contradict to the immediate judgment of the disciples about the Canaanite woman, as He simply responded, "I was sent ONLY for the lost sheep of Israel". Jesus must be saying something beyond the words He uttered and must be saying another important thing, for the disciples, and the Canaanite woman too, to understand.
The disciples needed to understand that they themselves are called to be sent, in particular space and time and in places and in situations still unimaginable for them to be in, for people they think are not part of the mission. The Canaanite woman`s presence with her background and with her request for her daughter`s healing can be an example of situation that Jesus` disciples needed to consider for their future participation in Jesus`s pastoral work & mission, for the forgiveness of sins, healing and reconciliation among nations.
So we are called too to continue knowing Jesus more and understand more His platform and mission. We are called to hear the promptings of His Heart`s inclusivity (a heart that includes and considers everybody). In our perseverance in prayer, let us listen intently to what He is telling us about the reality in our world. Let us listen more to Him until we hear Him saying that He chooses everyone to love including you and me, and all He wants for us is what`s the best for us…until then we will have more courage to go where we should go, and do what we should do.
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