20th Sunday, Ordinary Time

 


TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME 


You will notice a prominent “Gentile theme” as you listen to the readings this weekend. The Isaiah prophecy makes a collective reference to the Gentile population (56:6-12). Meanwhile, we find Matthew zeroing in on the case of an individual Gentile (15:21-28). In each instance an uphill path is being charted. The Gentiles in Isaiah are being summoned to a mystical location, designated as God’s Holy Mountain. As for the Gentile featured in Matt. 15, she faces her own uphill challenge, looking to receive favor from a Messiah of Jewish origin. 


Identified simply as a woman from the land of Canaan, she crosses an ethnic line and also a religious line by presenting her petition to Jesus. Her request will eventually be granted. But it’s not going to come easy. First, she will be ignored. Next, she will be characterized as an outsider. Finally, she will be compared to a dog. You might expect her to break it off at this point. Seemingly it would be in her best interests to shop around. Perhaps she will be able to look up another messiah, in one of the neighboring villages—one with a more agreeable bedside manner. 


But she doesn’t back down. It brings to mind Richard Gere’s anguished cry from the 1982 film Officer and a Gentleman: I HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO!! Having been harassed and persecuted by the academy drill instructor, it’s suggested to him that he should drop out and pursue a future in some other field. And yet, as far as he’s concerned, there are no other options. There’s nowhere else to go. The Canaanite woman has reached the very same conclusion. There’s not going to be an alternative messiah stationed in the next village. She will have to see this through. Yes, it’s an ordeal. It’s an uphill battle. Still, she’s convinced that it will be well worth the effort. 


Her trying experience will become a rewarding experience. The encounter with Jesus takes the shape of a struggle, at first. However, the struggle will be transfigured into something glorious. She perseveres because she has come to recognize Jesus for who he is, and for what he is. Matthew portrays the long awaited Jewish Messiah being properly recognized by a woman of Canaanite heritage. She succeeds where so many of the chosen people have failed. We know that Paul has been ministering to the Gentile population. But his progress has been limited with regard to the Jewish population (something acknowledged in our second reading, Romans 11:11-24). The Jews have largely stopped short of recognizing Jesus as the true Messiah. They regard him as a shallow imitation. Therefore, they stand in contrast with the woman from the land of Canaan. She is totally invested. 


And this would explain the approach taken by Jesus in Matthew 15. She’s clearly invested; but to what extent? He will find out by testing her—and she passes with flying colors. This begs the question of our own investment. Are we invested? If so, to what extent? More than likely our level of commitment will surpass what’s being outlined in Romans 11. But what about the standard that’s being set in Matthew 15? Do you understand Jesus to be the way? Does he rank as THE way? Or is he simply one “way” among an assortment of other ways? Is he the answer? Or is he just one possible answer among a selection of alternative answers? You can settle on the person of Jesus, or you can shop around. If the path appears to be heading in an uphill direction, you’re suddenly of a mind to shop around. Where will that leave you? Judging by these readings, it sounds like you’ll be looking up at the mountain. You won’t be scaling the mountain; you’ll be relegated to the position of having to look up at the place of exaltation. 

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