IV.
What have you made of the exchange between the Canaanite woman and Jesus?

As you read and meditate on these words, do you notice anything in the face of the Canaanite woman or Jesus that helps you understand what is going on between them.

V.
Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSVue)

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.

VI.
Over time I have heard of several ways to understand this exchange. Try reading the passage through the lens of these differing understandings.

• (1) At this time and place in Jesus’ teaching and ministry he was convinced that his mission was only to the “house of Israel” and he did not want this Canaanite woman interfering and taking his time away from his real work. The Canaanite woman challenges him to expand his understanding of his work and the Kingdom of Heaven.
• (2) Jesus knew his disciples did not yet understand that the Kingdom of Heaven which he announced was for all people regardless of race or nationality. They could not see the universal scope of the Kingdom, so Jesus pushed this exchange to teach the disciples that all peoples could enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
• (3) Jesus was aware of the Canaanite woman’s limited faith and initiated this harsh exchange to help her connect more fully with the depths of her faith. He was calling her to expand and enlarge her faith in God and him.

I suspect there are several more ways the exchange can be viewed.

Do any of these (or others you know of) help you understand what is happening between the two?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}