Matthew 15:26
"It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."
Readings for Sunday: Isaiah, Romans, Matthew
Reflection:
Was Jesus in a bad mood? In today’s Gospel, a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus asking him to heal her daughter. At first, his response seems surprisingly harsh: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” That sounds pretty tough, doesn’t it? But Jesus is not being cruel. He is teaching something much deeper about faith, salvation, and the relationship between Jews and Gentiles.
We sometimes forget something fundamental about our Catholic faith: Jesus was Jewish. So were Mary and Joseph. So were the apostles. In fact, the earliest members of the Church were Jewish. Since we as Catholics speak of Mary being our spiritual mother, we might say that we have a Jewish mother.
Through Mary, Jesus came into the world, and through Jesus, salvation was offered first to the Jewish people and then to all humanity.
The Old Testament tells the story of God’s covenant with Abraham and his descendants, the people of Israel. God did not abandon that covenant. As St. Paul says, “the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” The Jewish people therefore remain a people beloved by God.
Yet God’s plan was always bigger. Through the Jewish people came Mary; through Mary came Jesus; and through Jesus came the New Covenant, extending God’s mercy to every nation.
That is what makes the Canaanite woman’s encounter with Jesus so important. She was a Gentile, yet she recognized who Jesus was and trusted him completely. Jesus praised her: “O woman, great is your faith!” Her daughter was healed. The message is clear: salvation comes from the Jews, but salvation is for everyone.
As Catholics, there is no room for antisemitism. We should never forget our spiritual roots. Our faith is inseparably connected to the Jewish people and the promises God made to them. Our hope is ultimately for the day when all people will be united in Christ—not through force, but through freely embracing the truth and mercy of God.
Reflection Questions
- How can the Canaanite woman’s faith inspire you to trust Jesus when his response is difficult to understand?
- How does knowing that Jesus, Mary, and the apostles were Jewish shape your understanding of the Jewish people?
- How can you help build greater unity, respect, and understanding among people of different faiths?