O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.Amen.
First Reading Is 56:1,6-7
Thus says the Lord: “Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. 6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant— 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Responsorial Psalm Ps 67:2-3,5,6,8
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
Second Reading Rom 11:13-15,29-32
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry 14 in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! 29 The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
Gospel Acclamation Cf. Mt 4:23
Gospel Mt 15:21-28
Jesus went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 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.” 23 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.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But the woman came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Catena Nova
Notice that the woman was a foreigner, a gentile, a person from outside the Jewish community....Nevertheless, by perseverance she became worthy; for Christ not only admitted her to the same noble rank as the children…but he also sent her away with high praise, saying: “Woman, you have great faith. Let it be as you desire.” Now when Christ says: “You have great faith,” you need seek no further proof of the woman’s greatness of soul…. Have you understood? When the disciples entreated him the Lord put them off, but when the woman herself cried out begging for this favor he granted it. And at the beginning, when she first made her request, he did not answer, but after she had come to him once, twice, and a third time, he gave her what she desired. By this he was teaching us that he had withheld the gift not to drive her away, but to make that woman’s patience an example for all of us. Now that we have learned these lessons, let us not despair even if we are guilty of sin and unworthy of any favor. We know that we can make ourselves worthy by perseverance (St. John Chrysostom).
She seized the Kingdom, this Canaanite woman who, having left her country, cried out, saying: “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly tormented by a demon.” She truly forced the Kingdom, persistent in her prayers, wise in her responses, faithful in her words. She calls back He who passes her by, prays to him when He is silent, adores Him when He recuses Himself, submits to his refusal. Does she not seem to you to steal, when she coaxes from him that which was refused, when she snatches away that which was reserved for others? …. Let us force it too, then; let us steal it. (St. Ambrose).
The boldness of our love is pleasing to you, O Lord, just as it pleased you that we should steal from your bounty. (St. Ephrem the Syrian)
Let us persevere in prayer at all times. For if Our Lord seems not to hear us, it is not because He wants to refuse us. Rather, His purpose is to compel us to cry out louder and to make us more conscious of the greatness of His mercy….It is also to elicit proofs of our patience. This was the third virtue which accompanied the Canaanite woman’s prayer. Seeing her perseverance, the Saviour desired to prove her patience, too. By this virtue we maintain, as far as possible, equality of mind among the inequalities of this life.(St. Francis de Sales)
The Church cannot forget that she received the revelation of the Old Testament through the people with whom God in His inexpressible mercy concluded the Ancient Covenant. Nor can she forget that she draws sustenance from the root of that well-cultivated olive tree onto which have been grafted the wild shoots, the Gentiles. (Second Vatican Council).
As distinct from all other controversy dialogues, Jesus does not have the last word. Rather, the woman’s argument prevails over that of Jesus. The parabolic saying of Jesus against the admission of gentiles to the community of Jesus provokes the intelligent retort of the woman. She takes up Jesus’ parabolic image of the “table-children-housedogs” and uses it to argue against him. The woman “wins” the contest because Jesus, convinced by her argument … liberated her daughter from the demon…. [The woman whose] adroit argument opened up a future of freedom and wholeness for her daughter has also become the historically-still-visible advocate of such a future for gentiles. She has become the apostolic “foremother” of all gentile Christians (Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza).
Jesus points to this humble woman as a model of unwavering faith. Her persistence in beseeching Christ’s intervention is incentive for us not to become discouraged, not to despair when we are burdened by life’s difficult trials. The Lord does not turn away in the face of our needs and, if at times he seems insensitive to our requests for help, it is in order to put to the test and to strengthen our faith. We must continue to cry out like this woman: “Lord, help me! Lord, help me!”. In this way, with perseverance and courage. This is the courage needed in prayer. (Pope Francis)
Homily
The drama surrounding the senior senator from Kentucky these past weeks reminded me of a memorable sentence he uttered when he was the Senate Majority Leader: “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.” He was trying to quiet another senator — a woman — from raising objections to the nomination of a former Attorney General she considered, among other things, to be a racist. She was silenced and the confirmation went through. But that line is still remembered:Nevertheless, she persistedbecame a slogan of sorts empowering women who would not be deterred.
This past week the church celebrated the feast of St. Clare of Assisi. At the age of 18 she determined to follow the leader of a reform movement who was drawing the youth of that city after him, much to the chagrin of their families, above all the emerging middle class, as Francis' own father was. Until then, no woman had done so. But on a Palm Sunday night Clare snuck out of her aristocrat father's house who had other designs for her future, including an arranged marriage to further the wealth of the Offreduccio family and provide him an heir. After taking refuge in a Benedictine abbey for protection and repeated efforts to force her to return home — basically a kidnapping —nevertheless, she persistedand she would become founder of the female branch of the Franciscan family, the "Poor Clares."
In our own time and place, there's the case of a writer who accused a leading candidate for the highest office in the land of sexual abuse. He was found liable in a civil case and was ordered to pay her over five million dollars in damages. After winning election he continued to defame her resulting in another suit and further damages of over eighty million dollars. Despite ongoing legal wrangling and appeals all the way to the Supreme Court, the first settlement was paid —though he is trying to get his money back — and the second judgment awaits a further decision by the Supreme Court as the plaintiff is claiming immunity. Despite efforts to silence this woman and make her go away, she has been successful in having her grievances redressed. She persisted.
Then there are the victims and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's many crimes. Their public advocacy demanding transparency and accountability from the government, including congressional testimony, federal lawsuits, seeking to annul non-disclosure clauses by estate executors, press conferences, and the posthumous publication of a book by one victim relating her experiences — despite all the many obstacles, evasions, and stonewalling by another Attorney General — has met with limited success. But they will not be silenced nor will they go away until this demon has been fully exorcised. They persisted.
As did the unnamed woman from today’s gospel. After repeated requests that her prayer be heard, all she got from Jesus was silence:not a word. That did not, however, deter her. Shekept calling out after(G) the Lord whose disciples wanted her gone. Nevertheless, she persisted.
Finally, Jesus spoke. Only to tell her she had no business asking him for anything. Hewas sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But that rebuff did not discourage her. Not a chance. She persisted. Even that insult aboutfood of the children thrown to the dogswould not make her quit. She acknowledged her inferior status when compared to the children of Abraham. She would be happy with scraps from their table. And at last, Jesus was moved:O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish(cf. G). All becauseshe persisted.
Now it’s not easy to understand Jesus’ treatment of this woman. His behavior clashes with so many other scenes in the gospel where he showed pity. And he certainly knew his Bible. Like in Isaiah where the prophet speaks offoreigners who join themselves to the LORD . . . loving the name of the LORD and becoming his servants(I). So what gives?
Well, the story in question makes no sense apart from the woman’s persistent faith which proved itself through perseverance in the face of repeated obstacles. Jesus’ apparently heartless attitude might be seen as a test to exercise the woman’s considerable resolve. Like a trainer who makes what seem like excessive demands on an athlete, the Lord taxes the woman’s faith, but not beyond her strength. The Teacher knows his method, and his purpose.
But I think there’s more to the story. For what God seeks from us, God shows us first. God persists. This woman might well be seen as an image of such a God: who seeks us relentlessly, despite our indifference, our silence, even our contempt. It’s God, after all, who so often receives little more than scraps from our table. Nevertheless, God persists, perseveres, and waits patiently for a response.
Like Francis Thompson’sHound of Heaven, God pursues us with offers of love that make all other loves pale – even when
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped
those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
‘All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.’
Yes, we flee from God's approach. And yes, perhaps the Canaanite woman is a symbol of a who never gives up. The words of the Augustinian St. Thomas of Villanova to describe her —No one was ever exasperated, no one ever scorned, no one ever provoked by so many rebukes —might well be applied to Thompsons' spurned but persistent God. Paul too knew such a God, whosegifts and call are irrevocable —no matter our tendency to refuse or return them —delivering all to disobedience.Why? Thathe might have mercy upon all (cf. II). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Website)
For the Church: that we may be instruments of God’s mercy, guides for all who are seeking God, and companions to those developing a relationship with God.
For the Jewish people whom God has irrevocably called: that they may experience the compassion and mercy of God more fully.
For an end to racism and prejudice: that God will turn hearts and change minds so that everyone may be respected, and their dignity affirmed.
For countries and people who are divided by religious belief: that the Spirit of God will bring about new opportunities for understanding and cooperation.
For refugees and immigrants, particularly those fleeing violence: that God will ease their suffering, guide them to safety, and stir the hearts of many to assist them.
For all who are recovering wildfires, extreme heat, or other disasters: that God will ease their pain, give them strength, and renew their hope.
For all who are sick: that God’s healing love will strengthen them, remove their pain, and restore them to wholeness.
For students, particularly those who will be away from home for the first time: that God will help them learn, stay safe, and find the resources they need to assist them in the coming months.
God of the nations, to your table all are invited and in your family no one is a stranger. Satisfy the hunger of those gathered in this house of prayer, and mercifully extend to all the peoples on earth the joy of salvation and faith. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)
Offertory Antiphon
Offertory Motet (Josquin Desprez)
O Jesu, fili David, miserere mei:
Filia mea male a daemonio vexatur.
Nam et catelli edunt de micis, quae cadunt
De mensa dominorum suorum.
O mulier, magna est fides tua.
O Jesus, son of David, have pity on me:
My daughter is badly tormented by a demon.
Even dogs eat the crumbs which fall
From the table of their masters.
O woman, your faith is great.
Communion Antiphon
Closing Hymn
We cannot measure how You heal or answer every sufferer’s prayer, yet we believe your grace responds where faith and doubt unite to care. Your hands, though bloodied on the cross, survive to hold and heal and warn, to carry all through death to life and cradle children yet unborn.
The pain that will not go away, the guilt that clings from things long past, the fear of what the future holds, are present as if meant to last. But present too is love which tends the hurt we never hoped to find, the private agonies inside, the memories that haunt the mind.
So some have come who need Your help and some have come to make amends, as hands which shaped and saved the world are present in the touch of friends. Lord, let Your Spirit meet us here to mend the body, mind and soul, to disentangle peace from pain and make Your broken people whole.
