This isn’t my favorite scripture. It ends well. But having Jesus first ignore and then not only allow his disciples to harass a woman, but to himself call her a dog doesn’t sound like the Jesus I know.
I’m not alone. Some Biblical scholars try to find excuses for Jesus, suggesting that he was just referring to her affectionately, like a puppy. But that, frankly, kind of makes it worse. I think it is better to acknowledge that while the Gospel of John paints Jesus as more divine than human, Matthew follows Mark in this story in portraying Jesus as a part of his culture –as being very human.
A little context: Jesus has just left an acrimonious fight with the Pharisees about the religious debate of the day and has taken his disciples up north for little peace and quiet. So they left the city and the realm of the Pharisees and went up to a Gentile area, Tyre and Sidon. They didn’t tell anyone where they were going, but as soon as they got there, a Canaanite woman started shouting to Jesus for mercy, yelling, “Kyrie, Ellieson” Lord have mercy.
I understand that Jesus was human and was tired. But I still wince a little at his first two responses to this persistent woman. First, he was silent. Maybe he was trying to pretend he didn’t hear her? But she was shouting, “Kyrie, Eleison.” Lord have mercy. Meanwhile, the disciples were shouting, “Get rid of her!” My former Greek professor, Dr. Jim Boyce, writes that “in the original Greek their words are an alliterative and ironic echo of the woman's cry: apolyson. “
So imagine – Jesus hears a solo plaintive voice shouting, “Kyrie, Eleison” “Lord, have mercy” and his disciples shouting back, “Apolyson” Get rid of her.” Back and forth: “Kyrie, Eleison” “Lord, have mercy”; “Apolyson” “Get rid of her.”
Jesus turns to the disciples, and reminds them that he was sent to the lost sheep of Israel – to them. This was his mission – not to spend his time and energy on dogs.
But who is acting like sheep who follow? Who are acting like dogs?
The disciples seem to be angrily barking out words of exclusion while the woman bows down before Jesus, humbling herself, calling Jesus “Lord” and asking for mercy, “Kyrie Eleison.” As a foreigner from a tribe that had been an enemy to the people of Israel she was the least likely person to be a witness to Jesus and yet, here she is, on her knees proclaiming him as Lord. She knows, somehow, that just a crumb from his healing hand, just a word, would be more than enough to heal her daughter. And so she prays, “Kyrie Eleison.” “Lord have mercy.”
Jesus is struck by the depth of her faith. He hears her prayer, and he does have mercy. In that moment, Jesus – who is fully human as well as divine – has an aha moment, an epiphany – that opens his mission and his ministry to include the woman, her daughter and the whole world.
Jesus chooses to show mercy. His original purpose was for the lost sheep of Israel, but on the way, he discovered other people who were not from his tribe who were also worthy of care. Tired as he might have been, Jesus reveals that it is in God’s very nature to bend (to lean) to the side of grace, mercy and compassion.
And Jesus still listens to prayers.
This gives me hope – in the midst of the pandemic, social unrest and all of the protests and counter protests in our community. Jesus hears our prayers: “Kyrie Eleison.” “Lord have mercy.”
Like the Canaanite woman, our prayers aren’t necessarily answered right away. But her example gives me courage to not only hope, but to act and to persevere.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” It’s a good reminder that the work of justice doesn’t happen overnight. But we can’t forget that it also doesn’t happen all by itself. King was influenced by the words of another black preacher, Theodore Parker. Parker was an abolitionist who said in a sermon, “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe. The arc is a long one. My eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by experience of sight. I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends toward justice.” 1
That’s a statement of faith. And faith perseveres. AND faith acts. That’s what Parker did as an abolitionist, that’s what King did as a civil rights leader and that’s what the Canaanite woman did in seeking healing for her daughter. She may not have gotten Jesus’ attention if she had quietly sat at home and wished for change. Instead, she was obnoxiously loud in her prayers. And she did not take offense or give up when she did not get help right away. She persevered.
That gives me both hope and courage to persevere in prayer and action.
The video of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police is an epiphany, a wakeup call for me and for many of us that the work of justice for our black and brown brothers and sisters is not done and that we cannot sit by and simply hope that the arc of the moral universe will turn towards justice all by itself. As Christians, we are called to not only pray for justice but to also act for justice, working with our brothers and sisters in Christ of all tribes regardless of the color of their or our skin. We are called to persevere.
I was inspired by the memorial for Representative John Lewis. Lewis was a faithful Christian who lived out his convictions in a life of prayer, worship and action. Like Martin Luther King Jr, Lewis believed the movement for civil rights “was based on the simple truth of the Great Teacher: love thy neighbor as thyself.”2 And he believed that people could make a difference. In 1963, at the March on Washington, he said, "We all recognize the fact that if any radical social, political and economic changes are to take place in our society, the people, the masses, must bring them about." And that’s what he spent his life trying to lead despite being beaten, jailed and harassed for his convictions. In 2016, after the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, Lewis led a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives advocating for an end to gun violence saying, “We have been too quiet for too long…There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time.” 3
In December, Lewis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. A few days before his death, he wrote, “In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring.
When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate at last and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression and war. So I say to you, walk with the wind, brothers and sisters, and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide.” 4
Like Lewis and the Canaanite woman, we, who have faith, can persevere in prayer and let our prayers lead to action. So brothers and sisters in Christ, let us boldly pray for the Spirit of peace and the love of Christ to bring justice and health for our community, our country and our world. Let us persevere with confidence, knowing that God not only hears our prayers but will respond with even more grace, mercy and compassion than we can imagine. Thanks be to God. Amen.
1 Huffington Post, Jan 18, 2018 The Truth About ‘The Arc Of The Moral Universe’ by Mychal Denzel Smith,
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/opinion-smith-obama-king_n_5a5903e0e4b04f3c55a252a4
3 https://www.biography.com/political-figure/john-lewis
4Lewis, John, July 30, 2020 posthumous letter, The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/opinion/john-lewis-civil-rights-america.html
Prayers of the People
Let us pray for the church, the world and all of God’s creation.
Holy God, you call us to be bold like the Canaanite woman and to persevere in prayer and to seek justice. Grant us faith to believe and courage to boldly bring our cares and concerns to you. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of healing, you accompany us in sickness and suffering. Strengthen caregivers, health workers, and all whose work ensures the safety and well-being of others. Bring relief to all afflicted with the coronavirus or other illnesses including: David, Jacqueline, Sandy, Beverly, Bob, Brad, Ruth, Margaret, Linda, Dan, Cori, and Lucas. Bring the knowledge of your presence to all those feeling isolated especially those in care facilities including Jane, George, Ramona, Lois, Helen, Bev, Carolyn, and Herb. Console, heal, and nourish all those we name before you including those we now name silently or aloud……………… and those you know who need love and care. Lord in your mercy…Here our prayer.
We continue to remember those who have died and those who mourn. We remember: JoAnn Bloom, Gail Frost, sister of Jane Bork, Representative John Lewis and all those we name, silently or aloud…. Lord in your mercy… Here our prayer.
God of connection, you call us to make your presence known. Where the sin of racism fractures our relationships, bring repentance and reconciliation. Open our hearts for attentive listening so that our places of connection are filled with your Spirit. Lord in your mercy….
Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.