A few days ago, a friend and former parishioner wrote/emailed and asked me about the passage of Jesus and the Canaanite Woman that was the gospel from Wednesday and, as it happens, the upcoming 20th Sunday, Year A gospel on August 16th.
21 Then Jesus went from that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.22 And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”23 But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”24 He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”25 But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”26 He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”27 She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”28 Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour. (Matthew 15:21–28)
Pretty harsh to the modern ear. What is going on in this passage? The discussion around these verses raise questions of both Christology (who is Jesus) and biblical interpretation. Was Jesus being rude, reflecting a Jewish bias against Canaanites in general? Was Jesus being intentionally provocative as a means to get the woman to express her faith as a lesson for the Apostles who had remarked: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” Was Jesus operating out of his human nature and the woman provides a corrective to refocus Jesus on his divine mission? There is a lot going on in this passage.
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