Coming Home
Aug 7: Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah tells us in the first reading about exiles returning to the Northern Kingdom, after being held captive in Assyria. The Gospels talks about a different kind of homecoming, as Jesus welcomes a Canaanite woman into the community of believers.
Reading 1
Jer 31:1-7
At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the tribes of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the LORD: The people that escaped the sword have found favor in the desert. As Israel comes forward to be given his rest, the LORD appears to him from afar:
With age-old love I have loved you; so I have kept my mercy toward you. Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; those who plant them shall enjoy the fruits. Yes, a day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim: “Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the LORD, our God.”
For thus says the LORD: Shout with joy for Jacob, exult at the head of the nations; proclaim your praise and say: The LORD has delivered his people, the remnant of Israel.
Jeremiah is describing the end of the Assyrian captivity, where thousands of exiles return to the northern kingdom. On their way home, God appears to them. He reminds them that He has always and will always love them. That’s not always clear in times of suffering, but the recovery is a good time to give thanks.
Responsorial Psalm
Jer 31:10, 11-12ab, 13
R. (see 10d) The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
proclaim it on distant isles, and say:
He who scattered Israel, now gathers them together,
he guards them as a shepherd his flock.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
The LORD shall ransom Jacob,
he shall redeem him from the hand of his conqueror.
Shouting, they shall mount the heights of Zion,
they shall come streaming to the LORD’s blessings.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
Then the virgins shall make merry and dance,
and young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will console and gladden them after their sorrows.
R. The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.
And here’s the song of thanks that the returning exiles sing! God will always bring us home in the end.
Alleluia
Lk 7:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A great prophet has arisen in our midst
and God has visited his people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is from the story of Jesus raising up the widow’s son.1 The crowd witnessed a miracle and believed. We can only hope that they continued to believe.
Gospel
Mt 15: 21-28
At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, 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."
But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."
He said in reply, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
He said in reply, "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs."
She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters."
Then Jesus said to her in reply, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed from that hour.
First century Jews did, indeed, call gentiles “dogs.” It was not a polite thing to say. But Jesus didn’t actually say “dog” here; the word is better translated as “puppy.” He’s sort of goofing around with the terminology used at the time. It’d be kinda like calling someone a “rascal.” Technically it’s an insult, but I mean, c’mon.
And don’t forget, He once called Peter Satan.2 So it’s not like Jesus wouldn’t use strong language to make a point.
God set the Jews aside to be a light for all nations, and that’s eventually where Jesus sprang up, a shoot from Jesse’s tree. Jesus focused His ministry there. But when He sees especially strong faith outside of Judaism, like with the Centurion’s Servant,3 Jesus doesn’t hold back his blessings.
This is a particularly interesting case, since the Canaanites are the ones the Israelites pushed out after the Exodus. This woman’s ancestors were there first. Yet, she shows humility, and begs for Jesus’ help. She knows He has the power to cast out demons, when no one else does.
Later, after the Resurrection, Jesus grants this power to the Apostles and their successors, and sends them out into the whole world. The woman doesn’t know that yet, but she still has faith in Jesus.
The Israelites lost faith, even after being rescued from slavery, while this Canaanite woman finds her faith, even while her daughter is possessed by a demon. It’s pretty obvious who we should be modeling ourselves after today.