Woman, Great is Your Faith! – 20 August 2023

Matthew 15:[10–20] 21–28

The Canaanite woman is quite simply a remarkable woman. She comes to Jesus knowing who he is and seeking his deliverance for her daughter, crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David.” How odd to find the messianic address coming out of the mouth of this Canaanite woman. Then too, her daughter is possessed by a demon. . . She knows who Jesus is and that to him she must turn.

The woman keeps coming back after Jesus' rebuffs and is adroit in her response. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” . . . In this woman's response the magnitude and universal nature of the Messiah's mission is manifest just as much as it was in the Epiphany star and visitors. Her appeal is to him alone with a faith that recognizes him as master and knows the breadth and depth of his authority and purpose. The substance of her faith is remarkable. Jesus recognizes this; her daughter is healed “instantly” (v 28) at Jesus' word. –– John E. Smith

Romans 11:1–2a, 29–32

God cannot reject his chosen, and still be creditable as God. Moses established that for us in his wilderness intercessions (Exod 32:11–14 and Num 14:15–20). Therefore, it becomes a matter of prophetic certainty, in which Paul knows that God has not failed to fulfill his promise to his people and he will not fail to bring them into that fulfillment. The “remnant” is therefore a sign and anticipation of that reality. How then are we to make sense of Israel's rejection of the Gospel and the gentiles' hearing and responding with faith?

Paul's argument is filled with irony. The Jew's rejection leads to the inclusion of the gentiles through the gentiles' positive reception of the mission extended to them. At the same time the Jews' own “disobedience,” in the refusal of this same mission, leaves them now qualified as without hope in the Law and wholly dependent on grace alone. (See Paul's arguments in Romans 7 with regard to the real role and efficacy of the Law). –– John E. Smith

Isaiah 56:1, 6–8

Second Isaiah's message of hope and deliverance carries with it a paranetic force: “Hang in there; keep the faith. Be just and righteous; trust. My deliverance is coming.” Part of this message, however, means the reinterpretation of Israel's role as a chosen and servant people.

All nations are to know God, serve him, and worship him. In this common restoration to worship of God lies peace between enemies and nations. To quote Abraham Joshua Heschel: “The God of Israel is also the God of her enemies, without knowing Him and despite their defying Him. The enmity between the nations will turn to friendship. They will live together when they worship together.” (The Prophet [New York: Harper, 1962] 1:186)

Ultimately, Israel's promised liberation is to a redefined service that paves the way for other peoples, other servants, reconciliation, and peace. –– John E. Smith

John E. Smith has served as a Methodist pastor for many years.

Homily Service 41, no. 3 (2008): 155–166.