“for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table”
Today’s readings teach us many things. The main theme throughout all the readings is that salvation is coming, and it is coming for everyone. The first reading Isaiah prophesies the coming salvation. This salvation though is not just for the Jews, but to the foreigners as well. “All who keep the Sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer.” (Isaiah 56:6-7). The responsorial psalm picks this up with the refrain “O God, let all the nations praise you!” (Psalm 67:4). Then, in the second reading Saint Paul is writing to the pagan capital of the world, Rome. He writes, “I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles…For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.” (Romans 11:32). Finally, the Gospel reading gives us the account of the Canaanite woman who seeks out Jesus to cure her daughter from a demon. Jesus accepts her prayer because of her immense faith.
What is a covenant? The Bible is the story of the covenantal relationship between God and man. A covenant is formal agreement between two people to do specified things. The basic premise of the covenant between God and Israel is stated in the Book of Exodus, “I will take you as my own people, and you shall have me as your God.” (Exodus 6:7). God never abandoned His part of the covenant. God always took Israel as His own, even when Israel was unfaithful. The effects of Original Sin cause man to continually struggle replacing what should be first – God, with other things that should be secondary. Man continues to put secondary things in the primary place, thus making worldly things their god. Although God began this covenant with Israel, the covenant as we see in today’s Gospel is going to extend to all people. It is through the Church, the new Israel that salvation is offered to all. In the Church no one should eat the scraps on the floor but rather, all should have their place at the table, which is the altar of Sacrifice. Scraps will not satisfy when one can feast on the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ..
“In the Old Testament an agreement between God and Israel in which God promised protection to the Chosen People in return for exclusive loyalty. ‘If you obey my voice and hold fast to my covenant, you of all the nations will be my very own’ (Exodus 19:5). Moses presented Yahweh’s offer to his people, who promptly answered as one, ‘All that Yahweh has said we will do.’ The compact was sealed (Exodus 19:8). Many years later Jeremiah prophesied that a new covenant would be offered. ‘Deep within them,’ Yahweh promised, ‘I will plant my law, writing it on their hearts’ (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Ezekiel foresaw that God would ‘make a covenant of peace with them, an eternal covenant’ (Ezekiel 37:26). Its universal character was foreshadowed by Isaiah, to whom it was revealed by Yahweh, ‘so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth’ (Isaiah 49:6).” [1]
In the New Testament we see the fulfillment of the covenant in Jesus Christ. Jesus fulfills all the demands of the covenant with His Father in Heaven. Jesus is fully man and fulfills the covenant as man. All of humanity, Jesus and Mary excluded, broke the covenant as Adam and Eve had done. It was necessary that the New Adam (Jesus) and the New Even (Mary) fulfill the covenant. Man has been redeemed, and all though we constantly break the covenant, it is now possible to fulfill the covenant through Christ. Jesus fulfills the Covenant by dying on the cross for us all as He says, “It is finished.” (John 19:30). The blood that flowed from His Sacred Heart is the “blood of the eternal covenant” (Hebrews 13:20, Mark 14:24). The water that flowed from His Sacred Heart is the waters of Baptism. The covenant is eternal and can never be broken because it is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is fully God and fulfilled everything His Father asked of Him. “In the New Testament, when Paul was explaining to the Corinthians the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, he repeated Christ’s words: ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me’ (1 Corinthians 11:25). This master idea of the New Testament is reinforced in the Letter to the Hebrews: ‘It follows that it is a greater covenant for which Jesus has become our guarantee’ (Hebrews 7:22). Christ himself is the new covenant between God and his people.” [2] Jesus seeks the lost sheep of Israel, which is everyone. This is what He has come to do for His Father.
Why was it important to point out that she was a Canaanite? Canaanites were predominantly pagans. Her faith in Jesus is more amazing and impressive because in her ignorance she recognized what the educated fail to see. In her poverty of spirit she cries out to the one who contains all riches. Where in the Gospels do we see other pagans showing faith in Jesus? The Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13) and the Magi who come and give Him homage are two examples. The Magi were not Jewish, and yet they came to pay Jesus homage, and come to believe that He was the Son of God.
It is also important to know the woman is a Canaanite because it is shocking to hear the title she gives Jesus. What title does she give Jesus? She calls Jesus “Lord” and “Son of David”. We are two thousand years removed from this encounter of the Gospel and thus the magnitude of what she is saying in the culture of her time. “Very often in the Gospels people address Jesus as ‘Lord.’ This title testifies to the respect and trust of those who approach him for help and healing. At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, ‘Lord’ expresses the recognition of the divine mystery of Jesus.” [3] “The fact that this pagan woman turned to Jesus and called him the ‘Son of David’, a Messianic term that not even the Jews accorded him, is not without significance; it shows that God does not deny his light to any people or class.” [4] She is professing her faith not in the pagan gods, but rather she is professing faith in the one true God.
Why does Jesus seem to blow her off? Jesus is not blowing her off. When He says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24) He was revealing the will of His Father was to bring all of Israel back to one flock first, and then to have them go and proclaim the Gospel to all nations. The woman holds nothing back when she answers Jesus “Yes, Lord, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” (Matthew 15:27) She is telling Jesus that she has only eaten the crumbs of the faith yet she has come to have great faith and believe in Jesus. This woman in her humility desires simple crumbs, but gains the Bread of Life. Because of her humility and faith, Jesus holds nothing back of Himself and blesses her, “O woman, great is your faith! May it be done for you as you desire.” (Matthew 15:28)
Why does Jesus fulfill her prayer request? It is by her faith she has her prayer answered. She recognizes Jesus mastery and is obedient to Him willing to accept even the smallest of favors from Him.
How do we apply this to our lives? The other lessons in this packet go into greater detail, but overall we must have a consistent prayer life, like this woman of great faith. We must come to Jesus constantly asking for anything from Him because even the smallest amount of grace from Christ is greater than anything we can receive here on this earth.
[1] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 136
[2] Hardon, Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 136
[3] CCC 448
[4] Gabriel, Divine Intimacy pg. 211