Daily Reflection Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

“Conflict” is not a pretty word; nor is it something we like to experience. Yet, conflict and disagreement permeate both readings today. Perhaps, we can find something enlightening and energizing in these conflicts. 

    We read in Numbers, “And all the people we saw there are huge veritable giants.” We don’t want to encounter anyone or anything that is so big and so strong, that we immediately feel overwhelmed and conquered. If we allow our first reaction of fear to overwhelm us, we will dive into depression or violence. Yet, when we read the dialog among God and Moses and Aaron, we see that God is trying to explain that previously he had taken care of all the people’s needs. There is no reason to rebel. Do we realize that no matter the gigantic problems or worrisome encounters, we have God who is always with us and within us? Dialoging with God opens us to our own personal talents and the gift of grace given to us.

    Matthew tells us of another situation when a Canaanite woman recognizes Jesus and obtrusively begs for the cure of her daughter.  A cursory reading of today’s gospel in Matthew might leave us askance at Jesus’ referring to the Canaanite woman as a “dog.” Yet, a bit of research has revealed that the term Jesus is using is comparable to a puppy dog in our language. In other words, he is using a term of endearment. What Jesus is actually doing is teasing out of the woman her real request of love and deep concern for her ill daughter. This conversation leads to the Canaanite woman’s understanding of Jesus and his mission. The joy of her daughter’s healing deepens her own experience of God.

    Jesus never ceases to amaze us! He takes himself and his disciples to foreign territory, where he thinks no one will recognize him. Jesus wants some space and silence for them to focus on God’s plan. History shows us that the Israelites had separated themselves from the Canaanites, so now there is tension between the two groups. Jesus knows this fact. He walks into their territory anyway. We have already noticed in past readings of the gospel that Jesus never turns anyone away, no matter their nationality, physical, mental, or spiritual difference or malady. Jesus encounters everyone with love. He may not like the people. Yet, he encounters everyone with love.

    What Jesus does and says in the gospel is our blueprint for daily living. Let us encourage each other to accept differences in people’s ideology—not necessarily to agree, but certainly not to become violent in our thoughts, words, or actions. God’s understanding and love of all kinds of people (actually God created people with their physical, mental, and psychological differences) are way above our feeble attempts. But we have been honored and graced with that divine love. All God asks and all we ask of each other is that same respect and caring that Jesus shows the Canaanite woman.