Persist in beseeching the Lord.
Sunday, Aug. 16, is the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Mass readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28.
In the Gospel, Jesus goes north of Israel, preparing the Church for a mission to all the nations, to be truly universal, truly catholic. The first reading prophesies this: “The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord … and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer.”
A woman in need comes before Christ.
“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.” Some background: Canaanites were despised by Jews, and Jews were despised by Canaanites.
What would make a Canaanite woman reach out to a Jewish Messiah?
Desperation.
But Jesus, in his response, says something shocking: The usual explanation is that Jesus is calling out the woman’s faith and through her is summoning his disciples, who want the Lord to order her away, to repentance. In effect, he takes up their voices and the voice of all oppression.
“But
