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From the time God told Abram
to leave the land of his fathers and journey into the land of the
Chaldeans, the children of the patriarchs believed they were set apart
from other people. They were just a family, barely a tribe; but they
were greatly blessed and protected by God. He guided them in their
alliances and in their disputes.
In Egypt he grew them into a nation, brought them out, and gave them
their own land. Always one of the smallest nations, Israel
struggled to survive and not to be swallowed up by much larger
neighbors. With the death of King Solomon the nation split in two. In
time the Northern Kingdom was carried away and assimilated by the
Assyrians. Later the people of Southern Kingdom were taken captive into
Babylon, but they managed to preserve their ethnic identity. When a
remnant returned to the Promised Land they were very concerned about
maintaining ethnic purity.
For the Jewish people survival meant knowing who belonged and who did
not. This is the theme of today’s scriptures. In the first reading from
the prophet Isaiah we are told, “my house shall be called a house of
prayer for all peoples.” This beautiful concept of which the prophet
spoke was considered to be a description of the end times, the messianic
age. No one really expected to see such a thing until the end of time.
In today’s passage from Romans Paul speaks of how the Israelites’
rejection of the gospel has permitted it to be taken to the gentiles who
have accepted it. Now Paul hopes that the sight of the gentiles being
saved might bring the Jewish people to accept salvation.
In the gospel Jesus journeys into pagan territory, where he should not
journey without a very good reason. One suspects that he withdrew there
to get away from the crowds who followed him relentlessly. But even
there, a pagan woman comes after him, looking for a favor. The rebuff is
real, though she is rejected not because she is a woman, but because she
is not a Jew. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel.” Undaunted she continues to press her cause, but this time
Jesus insults her to her face. Would you have had the humility and
courage of that woman? Could you sacrifice your self-importance for the
sake of your child? “Sir, even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from
the table of their masters.” Jesus could resist her plea no
longer. “O woman, great is your faith!” Jesus may have worked one
miracle more than he was planning for that day because of a woman with
such great faith.
Do you know to whom you belong? How do you describe yourself? Is your
identity based on your race, ethnicity, occupation, economic status,
educational level, religion? What are the limits to your love and
service?
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