Breaking down barriers

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 Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ 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 Jesus 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 the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

As Christians, we believe that Jesus Christ is the model for discipleship we are to emulate, but then there is this story. Does Jesus really want us to treat others the way he treats the Canaanite woman in this story?

The Canaanites and Israelites were ancestral enemies from the moment the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, “Canaan.” Throughout generations, they did not speak to or engage with one another, and when they did, it was with disdain or anger. This type of behavior is still with us today. I remember my grandmother who immigrated from Croatia talk negatively about the Serbians because of how the Serbians mistreated the Croatians during various conflicts. Just listen to the news today about one group of people commenting negatively about the “other.” It happens to be the ugly side of our humanity. That is exactly what Jesus is showing us in this Gospel today.

Jesus, in the fullness of his humanity, shows us the ugly side of what it means to be human. We instinctively have this need to see “the other” person or group as inferior to ourselves. It isn’t until we engage in conversation with the “other” that we can come to know them as people with needs and desires just like us. The Canaanite woman wanted healing for her daughter. Even though enemies, she understood that Jesus had the power to heal her daughter. “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!” In this exclamation, the woman acknowledges that Jesus is Lord and Messiah and seeks his mercy; and, like a good mother, wants nothing for herself, but for her daughter. Impressed by the testament of love and faith of this loving mother, Jesus grants the healing she came to obtain.

But, Jesus is also showing us that breaking down the barriers to God’s love is what we are called to do. At World Youth Day, Pope Francis explained that the Church is for everyone. Pope Francis said, “there is space for everyone, and when there isn’t, please, let’s work so that there is — also for who makes mistakes, for who falls, for who it is difficult ...” He asked all the young people to “repeat with me: ‘Everyone, everyone, everyone!’ “ before waves of “todos, todos, todos” — “everyone” in Spanish and Portuguese — spread throughout the crowd.

“That is the church,” he said, “the mother of all; there is room for all.”

The “work” is in engaging the other, learning about their situation, having compassion for their plight and accepting them as they are.

We also are faced with questions of inclusion and exclusion everyday. Think about those with whom you work. We all know people who don’t fit the “norm” and may be more difficult to work with for whatever reason. How do we navigate their needs and the needs of those around us? We can not attend to one and ignore the others. And, reflect on interactions with other staff members. Do we see one another as equal members of this body or do we see age, culture, discipline or status as roadblocks to unity?

These are tough questions to face. Taking time to learn about one another through conversations and experiences can help break down those barriers and lead us into the ultimate community … the body of Christ.

The church, the body of Christ, is for all, welcomes all, “todos, todos, todos!”