Matthew 15:21-28

I have been trying to understand the events that unfolded in Charlottesville last weekend that left one person dead apparently at the hands of someone associated with a neo-Nazi group. I have been trying to understand the anger and hatred that erupted there. I am trying to understand how people can vilify others based solely on the color of their skin or their ethnicity. I am trying to understand, but understanding eludes me. And, I have been praying, praying that God will bring shalom – peace that goes beyond the absence of strife, peace that passes all understanding; peace that heals wounds and brings us together. I am praying for peace. And, I have been reading the Scriptures and asking for God to show me that a way forward is possible; asking for God to give me hope at a time when both hope and peace seem in short supply.

Then, as if in answer to my prayer, God offered me today’s reading from Matthew. I will admit that this passage is an unlikely place to find hope and answers to the hatred we see all around us. After all, this is a really strange passage; a passage where racial tensions run high and Jesus seems to be part of the problem rather than part of the solution. But, I believe that this passage might be able to show us a way forward.

The first thing to notice is rather obvious; racial tensions are nothing new. They did not begin in Charlottesville or in the Jim Crow south or the American Civil War or even in the antebellum south. No, racial tensions go way, way back. In this passage a Canaanite woman came to Jesus. Remember that the Canaanites had been in the land we call Israel for a very long time. They were there when God called Abraham to leave his father’s house and find his inheritance in the land of Canaan. The conflicts between the two groups goes back at least to the time of Joshua who led an army of Israelites intent on occupying the land and pushing out the Canaanites. So, to say there was “bad blood” between Jews and Canaanites is an understatement.

The other thing that is obvious in this passage is that it portrays Jesus in a rather unflattering way. The woman was obviously desperate; her daughter was in the grips of what she saw as a demon. She was so desperate that she was willing to beg a Jew (Jesus) for help. She put aside her pride and addressed him as Lord and honored him with the royal title, Son of David. She was not harsh or threatening or disrespectful; she only asked for mercy. But, “Jesus did not answer a word.” It appears that Jesus simply ignored the woman and his disciples urged him to “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” In other places in the gospel narratives, Jesus responded with kindness to those in need, but not here. Then it got worse. First Jesus said she was not worthy to receive his attention. When she continued to beg him for help he called her a dog! It was only when she accepted the insult and turned it into yet another plea for help that Jesus finally relented and healed her daughter.

Before going any further I want to say that students of the Bible have been trying to explain this passage for hundreds of years. The real problem is that Jesus comes off looking like a racist, looking like someone ready to reject a person simply because they were not a member of the “chosen people.” I have also tried to understand and justify Jesus’ action; but, I have never come up with an satisfactory answer. The best I can come up with is that is that this exchange is a test, two tests really. But Jesus is not testing the woman or her faith. I believe Jesus is testing us.

This passage is testing us and our attitudes towards those who are different from us. I am going to ask you a question and I want you to be honest with yourself. What is your first reaction when you are approached by someone who is different from you? They might be black or homeless or just dirty and smelly? Well, to be honest, a lot of thoughts race through my head when such a person approaches me. One thought I have is “this is not a good time;” I am on my way to do something important and I do not have time for this. Another thought is for my personal safety; will they become aggressive and hurt me? I also wonder if I have anything that I can give them so they will just go away. I can tell you what I am not thinking at that moment. I am not thinking about their true needs and what I can do to really help them. And, to be honest, I am not sure I want to get that involved with them. I believe this is Jesus’ test for us in this passage. How will we respond when a “Canaanite woman” comes up to us and begs, “Have mercy on me?”

Now, there are several ways we could respond to this woman. My first response might be to analyze her situation and see what resources or programs I have that might address her issues. And that might be helpful and they might even bring some relief to her daughter; but, it is unlikely this type of response will solve her deeper problems. Handouts and programs may meet immediate needs, but they will not solve the real problems. Now, I do believe we must engage in works of charity; we must feed the hungry and we must comfort the afflicted, but that is only the beginning. We cannot let programs substitute for compassion; we cannot let giving money substitute for giving ourselves. I believe the real reason the Canaanite woman came to Jesus was because she was seeking acceptance from him that she too was a child of God. Yes, she came with a specific need in mind; but, her encounter with Jesus did more that get relief for her daughter. After meeting Jesus she was no longer a stray dog wandering the streets; she was a human being worthy of our love and respect.

When I meet someone in need, I find I often fail Jesus’ test. I focus on the problem, not the person. I see them as an overdue rent payment or a car in need of repairs; I see them as problems to be solved and not as people to be loved. I believe this is the test of the Canaanite woman. Do we see her as just an inconvenient problem to be pushed aside; or, do we see her as an opportunity to love our neighbor as our self?

The second test of this passage is one of faith. As the woman left, Jesus said, “great is your faith.” This is significant. In last week’s gospel Jesus (and Peter) walked on the water and Jesus talked about faith. You remember the story. As Jesus approached the boat, Peter said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water,” and Peter began walking on the water. “But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” When they got into the boat, Jesus said to Peter, “you of little faith, why did you doubt?” These stories are placed where they are to help us understand the difference between “little faith” and “great faith.”

But, before trying to answer this difference, we need to have a good working definition of faith. Here is one I have used before: Faith is trusting God to act in the face of the impossible. So, you can see how this might apply to Peter’s situation. There was Jesus walking on the water; something we know is impossible. So, Peter said “command me to come to you on the water;” Peter asked to do the impossible. The trust came when Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water. Peter trusted Jesus to act in the face of the impossible. And, this definition also applies to the Canaanite woman’s situation. Her daughter was tormented by a demon and no one was able to offer her relief; her situation was clearly impossible. So, she approached the one person who could help her daughter and trusted that Jesus would act in spite of hers being an impossible situation. Both Peter and the woman faced the impossible, both trusted God to act, and both were rewarded with miracles. Peter did walk on the water and the woman’s daughter was healed.

So, what makes Peter’s faith “little” and the woman’s faith “great?” Is it the size of the miracle? Is walking on water less miraculous than the banishment of a demon? Well, both are pretty spectacular, but I do not believe one is somehow “better” than the other. I believe that the key to understanding the difference between “little” faith and “great” faith might be found in a story from Genesis; the story of Jacob wrestling with God. As Jacob return to Canaan after living in exile he stood alone on the river bank and he wrestled with God. Even though the chances of Jacob prevailing were slim, he held on and demanded a blessing. Now, look at Peter. How did he respond when he saw strong wind and the waves. Well, “he became frightened, and began to sink.” When things did not go according to his plan, Peter panicked and began to sink. He might have had the faith to trust God to do the impossible; but, when things looked bad, Peter’s faith sank. Now, look at the Canaanite woman. How did she respond when Jesus ignored and insulted her? Did she give up? Did she leave in disgust? No, like Jacob she redoubled her efforts; she continued to struggle with Jesus and she received a blessing!

So, what distinguishes “little” faith from “great” faith? I believe the difference is how we respond when the going gets tough. Faith requires that we act; faith requires that we trust God to do the impossible. And great faith requires that we continue to hang on even when things are dark. Jacob showed great faith; he continued to struggle with God even when he knew he could not win. The Canaanite woman showed great faith; she continued to press Jesus for a miracle even when she was ignored and rejected.

These are the two “tests” in this passage. First, will we see the people around us as people to be loved or as nuisances to be removed? And, second, will we hold on to God even when the hatred and insults and waves threaten to destroy us??

I believe these are the tests we face in the wake of the most recent events in Charlottesville. How will we look on those who are different than us? Will we see them as “Canaanites” who have no place in our society and need to be erased or removed? Will we see their needs as drains on our resources? Will we see ourselves as superior for some reason and look down on those who are different? This passage tests us. Will we travel down the path of hatred, or will we choose a different road? Will we find a way to choose love?

And, the recent events test our faith. Do we have the faith to trust God to do the “impossible?” Maybe, but more importantly, do we have the guts and the tenacity to hold on through the darkest days. I try to avoid getting too political, but our presidents recent statements feel like insults and obstacles; they feel like dark waves ready to overwhelm me. I must ask, Is my faith, is our faith, great enough to hang on?

Racism, hatred, and xenophobia are part of our past. Our grandparents dealt with them and even Jesus dealt with them. But Jesus says they do not have to be part of our future. Jesus came to show us a different way; Jesus came to bring love; Jesus came to show us how to wash our enemies feed; Jesus came to show us how to love our neighbors as ourselves. I do not know what lies ahead for us as individuals and as a nation. Right now, things look dark; but I seek great faith – faith that holds on to God even in the darkest storms.

Amen.

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