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Gospel Reading for August 07, 2024 – Matthew 15: 21-28
BEYOND BOUNDARIES
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 he did not say a word in answer to her. His 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 him 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 her daughter was healed from that hour.
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The Canaanites were known to be idolatrous and immoral. They practiced polytheism, or the worship of multiple gods. They were the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, the two cities destroyed with fire and brimstone as punishment for their sexual sins. It is understandable then, that the Israelites loathed them, and referred to them as dogs. Jesus’ response to the woman was not a “no” but a chance for the woman to reach out to him even more. The reaction of the woman to what Jesus said, moved him to go BEYOND BOUNDARIES. After all, the woman was God’s creature who had great faith in him, maybe much more than many of the Israelites, the scribes and Pharisees. She and her daughter could be given the same privilege.
Jesus affirmed this in Matthew 28:19-20 before he ascended to the Father, when he said to the apostles: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.“ NO MORE BOUNDARIES. Hopefully, like Jesus, we believe that Christianity is for everyone and that SALVATION IS FOR EVERYONE!
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that on April 14, 1521, Christianity came to our shores and since have become recipients of your salvation!
