The Ongoing Question

 

This Sunday we get to reflect on one of my favorite Gospel readings. It is the confession of Saint Peter at Caesarea Philippi. It is one of my favorites because I can easily picture myself in the scene.

Jesus asks the disciples a couple of questions: He wants to know what the people are saying about him, “Who do the people say that the Son of Man is?”  They respond, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He then turns the question on them, “But who do you say that I am?” There must have been a moment or two of silence. The question cut to the core of their relationship with him. And then Simon Peter, clearly the spokesperson for the group, responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  He gives this great testament of faith, this proclamation that he gets it. His willingness to say it aloud speaks to what has been revealed to him. He doesn’t say, “I guess you are the Son of God.” He speaks it declaratively. It is upon this declaration of faith that Jesus builds the Church. He declares, “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.”

There is no mistake that this happened at Caesarea Philippi, a place known for the worship of pagan gods. Peter’s testimony was saying that Jesus is not just another one of those false gods that many people spent time worshiping. No, he was declaring that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. He was declaring that Jesus is not just one choice among many. He is the definitive choice.

I often sense the Lord asking me the question, “Who do you say that I am?” Is he really the most important thing in my life? Is he the one on whom I base all my other decisions? Or rather, do I only focus on him when it is convenient or comfortable? Today’s world is full of choices that can easily become our idols. We can ask ourselves is what we worship the pursuit of money or power or dominance over other people? Do we waste time scrolling on our phones instead of allowing ourselves to become aware of the presence of God? Do we see Christ in those in need? By our lives, who do we say that the Lord is?

Our response cannot simply be our words. It must also be reflected in our actions; in what we do and in what we fail to do, particularly for those in our lives who are most in need. As a suggestion, in a nightly examen of our day, we might each allow the Lord to ask us this simple but profound question, “Today, who did you say that I am?”

- The Servant

 

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 15:21-28

 

I was fortunate to be born into a loving family that included many loving aunts and uncles.  Among my aunts was Aunt Mimi who was married to my father's brother, my Uncle Louie.  (I think every Italian-American kid in my generation had an Uncle Louie.)  Aunt Mimi was the most gentle and loving person I ever met in my life, and that is not an overstatement. Throughout my entire life I never heard Aunt Mimi ever raise her voice, or speak out in anger, or reject a person in need.  The love, compassion and empathy that Aunt Mimi and Uncle Louie had in their hearts extended far beyond family and friends. They particularly extended themselves to those who suffered, were victims of injustice, who were marginalized

Imagine my horror, therefore, when I was seven years old and preparing for First Holy Communion (pre-Vatican II) when I was told in school that my Aunt Mimi could never enter heaven!  Why?  Because she was a Jew.

What?  The person who most embodied to me the true gospel values that I was being taught?  She couldn't get to heaven?  How can that be?  I literally cried.

When I read about this Canaanite woman being rejected when begging for help for her afflicted daughter I cannot help but to think of Aunt Mimi.  Ironically, this anonymous woman is rejected because she is NOT a Jew.  Even Jesus tells her that he was not sent to help her kind.  She loves her daughter who is suffering and she is told "no"?  How can that be?

How often in this life do we reject others - despite their great need - because they are simply the "other."?  How many mothers throughout the world, in this day and age, who also beg for help for their children hear "You're not one of us."

This Canaanite woman knew that Jesus was the ONLY one who could save her daughter, and she did everything - including giving up her own dignity and calling herself a "dog" so that her daughter could be saved.  Another irony:  last week we heard Jesus tell Peter - the leader of the disciples - that he had little faith.  Here, this anonymous woman who is not even Jewish is told she has great faith.

A person's so-called "worthiness" does not matter to God.  Faith and trust is what matters.

This Canaanite woman's willingness to debase herself out of love for her daughter foreshadowed Jesus' sacrifice when he was tried, convicted and punished as a criminal, physically tortured, stripped of his dignity and defiled all because of his love for us.  He suffered the greatest of indignities so that we could be rid of OUR demons, our sins and be saved.

Are we not called to do the same?  Are we not called to reach out to those that are called "unworthy" in this world and bring God's healing to them in any way we can?

I am grateful that I had Aunt Mimi in my life.  I am even more grateful to have Jesus in my life.  I can only pray that my faith could also become "great" in my times of greatest need.  Yet, I need to pray even more that I recognize the great faith in others in need and respond according to His will.

 

"Call me Ishmael"