August 20, 2017
I would like to concentrate on the woman presented in the Gospel we just heard (Mt 15,21-28). A Canaanite woman dares to approach Jesus. She is a woman and a Gentile (that means she is not Jewish). She has a sick daughter. Maybe she is a single parent. By the custom and practice of the time, she should not dare to approach Jesus. Culturally, she has no right to expect to share in the ministry of Jesus. Or even to profit from Jesus’ ministry. She should “remain invisible and say nothing.” There are two aspects in her approach to Jesus: On one level, the Canaanite woman is like many people in our world today. She is like all the women who are denied an equal place at the table. She represents those who are struggling to care for others. Often women struggle to care for their children, their family, their parents and often they do not have the means to do as they would like. She is like all parents who cannot get good health care for their children. She represents those who are left out because of their national or ethnic background. She reminds us of those of us who are intimidated by religious, political, or economic authority. On another level, the Canaanite woman reminds us of those who take the courage to speak up. There are those who speak up despite all the cultural messages to keep quiet and just accept their suffering. She models a woman who is willing to speak up to authority. She represents those who keep on speaking out for their own needs, for the needs of others. In a more political language, the Canaanite woman is one of those women who speak out for justice and basic human rights. She represents those who do not give up. So, on one level, the woman in our Gospel is a kind of underdog, left out, excluded; on the other level, she speaks out and does not give up. Jesus is touched by this amazing encounter. He praises her faith. Her daughter is cured. The experience of Jesus seems to point to the possibility of conversion and the possibility of help coming to those who are in need. Jesus is kind of converted; the encounter changes him. The Gospel inspires people who have the freedom and courage, to speak up and take action for their rights. The Gospel is about liberation and transformation. The woman speaks up. Her daughter is healed. Both she and Jesus are changed. Let us ask ourselves, if this woman represents something we would like to be or like to become…
Fr. Wolfgang Felber, SJ