Posted by The WORD in other words (2017) by Father Pio Estepa SVD – Chicago, Illinois, USA
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel, something about Jesus’ conduct can be unsettling, especially for women. In His homeland, Palestine, a blind man blocked by the noisy crowd cried out: “Son of David, have pity on me!” Jesus heard him and promptly healed him (Luke 18:38–43).
Yet in the Phoenician region near Tyre and Sidon, a desperate mother cried out above a similar crowd: “Lord, Son of David, have pity on my daughter!” (Matthew 15:22). This time, Jesus seemed to ignore her and walked on. Even when His disciples pleaded, He replied: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 15:24). What then was He doing in foreign territory?
Jesus had His share of opposition and frustration during His ministry. He withdrew to foreign lands, perhaps seeking rest and reflection. Yet even there, He could not escape human need. The pagan woman confronted Him with a faith greater than what He had found among His own people.
His initial response was daunting: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matthew 15:26). At first glance, this sounds harsh and ethnocentric. But Jesus was quoting a proverb familiar in His culture. The Greek wordplay is striking: kune (she-dog) and proskunein (to prostrate). The woman bowed low before Him, and Jesus softened the proverb by using kunaria—“puppies.” A growling dog inspires fear, but a whining puppy invites tenderness.
She took no offense. Instead, she bantered back: “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Matthew 15:27). With this punchline, she revealed her humility and persistence. Jesus humbly acknowledged her faith: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” (Matthew 15:28). Her daughter was healed instantly.
This passage reveals Jesus’ humanity—His openness to be challenged, His humility to admit a change of perspective, and even His sense of humor in softening a harsh proverb.
Three English words trace their origin to the Latin humus: filthy, fertile, soil. All three resonate here. Jesus shows us His healing humanity through humility (accepting correction), fertility (allowing faith to grow beyond boundaries), and humor (turning a harsh saying into a tender exchange).
The encounter with the Canaanite woman reminds us that faith can break barriers, persistence can win grace, and humility can open the door to miracles. Jesus’ humanity shines through His willingness to be touched, challenged, and moved by love.
