Jesus Calls Us
Called from the Margins of Society
The Prodigal Son
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5) Matthew 15:21-28 The Voice 21 Jesus left that place and withdrew to Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman—a non-Jew—came to Him. Canaanite woman (wailing): Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is possessed by a demon. Have mercy, Lord! 23 Jesus said nothing. And the woman continued to wail. His disciples came to Him. Disciples: Do something—she keeps crying after us! Jesus: 24 I was sent here only to gather up the lost sheep of Israel. 25 The woman came up to Jesus and knelt before Him. Canaanite Woman: Lord, help me! Jesus: 26 It is not right to waste the children's bread by feeding dogs. Canaanite Woman: 27 But, Lord, even dogs eat the crumbs that fall by the table as their master is eating. 28 Jesus—whose ancestors included Ruth and Rahab—spoke with kindness and insight. Jesus: Woman, you have great faith. And your request is done. And her daughter was healed right then and from then on.
For Reflection "Too often, we cannot or refuse to empathize with people whose experience is different from our own. If the oppression, injustice, or pain is not happening in our house and neighborhood or does not impact our race, gender, class, or sexuality, then we dismiss it as unwelcomed, unjustified noise. Jesus' response to the apostles' urging to send the Canaanite woman away seems to affirm their desire to dismiss her: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:24, NRSV). The fact that her people's blood runs through his veins and that his people's blood runs through her veins does not move Jesus! If our common humanity, our relatedness, does not move us, what will?"*
What can express the power of the powerless than the Cannanite's constant wailing persistence? Such tactics are the meat of non-violent protests, useful even toward Jesus and the disciples. *Mitzi J. Smith, J. Davison Philips Professor of New Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Ga.
Pray
Pray with compassion and empathy. Pray for God to shower your enemies with good things. Finally, pray for change for the good.
Forward to a friend
Sign up for our mailing list! | 
