Curs

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. (Matthew 15:21-28)

What is Matthew’s point in this reading that makes Jesus appear, for a time, hard-hearted?  His message then and to us now is don’t be arrogant and exclusionist.  Don’t think we are better than anyone else or other group, including those who worship God in other ways.  Christians don’t have a monopoly on the truth.

The Canaanite woman was clever.  The Canaanites were not Jews; therefore, in eyes of many Jews of that time, they were “dogs,” not pets as we know them, but as scavengers.  She put Jesus in his place and reminded him not to forget who he was: a healer, among many other things. 

How many of us consider the other person or group that thinks differently from us, as “curs?”  [Note: A cur is a mongrel dog, particularly of aggressive or unfriendly nature. The term is believed to be derived from the Old Norse kurra, meaning 'to grumble or growl.’]   Too many of us think this way.  Thus is the state of our political and religious discourse.  We are to be healers, not curs scavenging for things to use against our neighbors to promote divisiveness and hate.

Deacon David Pierce