Letting God Be God

Because he was human, Jesus had to learn—as all humans must—that God’s mercy has no boundaries. The culture in which Jesus was raised emphasized that the Israelites alone were God’s chosen people. It is natural, then, that Jesus believed his mission was only “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” As we see in Matthew 15: 21-28, it took the fierce love of a Canaanite woman for her daughter to open Jesus’ eyes to God’s love and mercy for all people.

In a reflection on this gospel story, Sr. Esther Fangman noted that the Canaanite woman responded in a nonviolent manner to the disdain she was shown by Jesus and his disciples. She did not bristle at or attempt to refute their characterization of her, but neither did she withdraw; she stood her ground and persisted in her call for mercy. She humbly but insistently noted that all people, even the lowly, have a claim on God’s providence: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Her response helped Jesus realize that non-Israelites also can have faith in God’s mercy, and he healed her daughter.

In this encounter, Jesus learned to set aside judgment and let God be God. If God wished to rescue a Canaanite girl from a demon, so be it. We, too, need to stop judging who “deserves” to be included in our vision of God’s kingdom and instead imitate God’s mercy when we encounter people who are suffering and in need. As Thomas Merton said, “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business, and in fact, it is nobody’s business. What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbors worthy if anything can.”