Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara
Homily for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Church of St. Bridget of Minneapolis, MN
Sunday, August 16, 2026
Today’s Gospel is the story of Jesus and a Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28). Mark calls her a Syrophoenician woman. When I preached on this passage a few weeks ago, I said it bothers many people. The story says Jesus is in the region of Tyre and Sidon, outside the borders of Israel. He comes across an unnamed woman who pleads with him, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” How does Jesus respond to her? At first, he says nothing to her. Imagine approaching someone for help, and the person does not say, “Sorry, I cannot help you now.” Rather, the person ignores you. To make matters worse, Jesus’ disciples say to the Lord, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” Jesus replies that he was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Refusing to give up, the woman approaches Jesus, bows before him, and pleads even further, “Lord, help me.” Then Jesus utters what I consider the harshest and most off-putting statement in the entire Gospel: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” This is a woman in great distress. She is asking for healing not for herself, but for her daughter. She is being put off, but rather than be discouraged and give up, she persists. In fact, she rolls with the punches and says, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” At this point, Jesus says, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” Matthew says her daughter was healed at that hour.
Why does this story bother people? Here is Jesus, the sinless Son of God, appearing grumpy and hurling the most off-putting line at this woman in great need, essentially calling her a dog. What do we make of this? How do we read and understand it? Some preachers say: Jesus was having a tough day in his ministry. He was grumpy and tired at the end of the day, and probably hungry. Then this woman comes along, and he snaps at her. It shows his humanity and limitations. But this poor woman refused to go away. In fact, she speaks truth to power and shows how clever she is in getting what she wants. This interpretation is utter nonsense. The problem with that reading is that it turns Jesus into a sinner. But we already know that Jesus is God. He was tempted in every way, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). The Son of God cannot be a sinner. The moment he becomes a sinner, he is not the Savior. Even if you agree that he was grumpy and tired at the end of the day, he cannot be calling people names. Sometimes I get tired and grumpy, but I don’t start calling people names. To do that would be a sin. This means that interpretation is deeply flawed and erroneous.
How should we read this passage then? We are meant to read it more subtly. It leads us to an issue central to the Bible: the relationship between Israel and the other nations. Is Israel the chosen people of God? Absolutely! But does that mean other nations are in darkness? Not at all! Israel has been chosen for the sake of the nations. That principle is on full display in this Gospel. From the very beginning of the Bible, when God created the heavens and the earth, there was no Israel. God created all there is— visible and invisible. God’s salvific purpose is not just for Israel alone, but for the whole world. Again, look at the story of Noah. He was not an Israelite. In fact, there was no Israel in the time of Noah. God’s love is for creation and for all humanity. But what means did God choose to deal with the whole creation and all humanity? The means God chose was the formation of a particular people, Israel. God called Abraham to leave his fatherland and his familiar environment for a place God would show him. From Abraham came Isaac and Jacob. Then came Moses, Joshua, Saul, and David. Then came the temple, the Ten Commandments, the covenant, the prophecy, and all the institutions of Israel. What was the purpose of all that? It was to form a holy people according to God’s heart and mind, who would then draw all the nations of the world to themselves. From Israel, people would be sent out to the whole world to bring about God’s good order and to bring all the world into union with the Creator God. Israel is chosen. They are the special people. But they are not chosen for themselves. They are chosen for the sake of the world. Once you understand that, you will understand the vocation of Israel.
With this in mind, let’s return to today’s Gospel. What is the reason for the off-putting move by Jesus and his disciples? It is a statement that again highlights Israel's specialness as the chosen people of God: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But then look at how the story ends. This woman represents all the nations of the world that sense Israel's blessings and want to partake of them. She represents the world's longing for justice, mercy, and the love of God. She correctly senses where these blessings are found. She embodies the hunger of lost humanity. She is a symbol of the nations and of the Church. She is an example of patience and perseverance, virtues strongly encouraged in the Christian tradition. When you pray and pray, and your prayers have not been answered, pray more, and more, and more. And be patient. God is doing something, even though it is exceedingly hard to see. But we must trust like the Canaanite woman. We must trust that God is working. Is Jesus testing the woman so that she might know just how great her faith is? That was St. Augustine’s explanation for why God sometimes says no to repeated prayer.
In conclusion, look at your own life and the blessings you have received. I hope you know that everything you have been given is meant to be shared with others.
God bless you!
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