Homily Notes 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time
20th Sunday of Ordinary Time/Jesus and Racial Tension
“For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.” The words come from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. In the minds of Christians these words are a prophesy about Jesus. Jesus, our savior, was to be respectful of the faith of all people in the one true God. But we could wonder, did Jesus have this understanding from the beginning of his life here on earth? After all, he was fully human as well as fully divine.
His human side seems to peek through in the Gospel of Matthew today. We are not used to Jesus refusing to help people. Yet, that is what he does in the Gospel story. A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus asking him to heal her troubled daughter. Jesus says no. But he changes his mind. In the Gospels, Jesus says no twice to a request for charity; at the wedding feast in Cana, when he does not want to help the bride and groom who have no more wine, and here. Both times his mind is changed by a woman; His mother Mary and this unnamed widow. We ask two questions. First, why did he say no? Second, why he did change his mind?
He said no, it seems, because he believed his mission was to the people of Israel. We might find it hard to appreciate the dynamic going on here. The widow was of another race as well as another religion. Her people had always been enemies of the Jewish people. Wars had been fought between the Canaanites and the Jews. Atrocities had occurred. Because of all this, there was a real hatred between the races. Yet, here is this woman coming to Jesus. Her concern for her daughter was more important than any animus she held toward the Jews.
The title she calls Jesus by, “Son of David” was not simply a way to curry favor. No, it was a Theological statement. David, as King of Israel, had been responsible for the welfare of all his people including the widow, the orphan and the foreigner living in exile. The mother, who sought out Jesus, reminded him of who he claimed to be, a savior for his people who was to imitate King David in all things.
Why did Jesus change his mind? Because he saw the great faith of the woman. She would not be driven away. She was adamant in her belief in him. He changed his mind because he was a great leader. Leaders listen. A good leader does not just issue pronouncements, but they reflect on what their policies do. If their decisions cause suffering they move in new directions. Because of Jesus ability to see that every person is a child of God, deserving to be a part of his kingdom, we sit here today as Christians despite the fact we are not Jews.
As we reflect on the controversies of the last week, it is good for us to hear this story. We should put this in the context of our own experience as Catholics. Whenever new groups of Catholic immigrants came to the United States they faced bigotry. I have lived in a number of different places in our diocese where there is a history of animosity towards Catholics. In one town in our diocese there is a university where there was an unwritten policy that Catholic professors would not be hired. Crosses were burned on rectory lawns when Catholic churches were being established in towns at the beginning of the twentieth century. Shop keepers would refuse to serve priests and nuns in certain cities in central Illinois. The Klu Kluz clan is present in all parts of our country including Illinois. In the past Catholics were suspected of not being loyal to the United States. Catholics of certain ethnic groups who have come to America have been and are accused of being racially inferior.
We must not forget that the Catholic Church was a target of Nazi Germany. The Nazi’s wanted to break the church in Poland, to wipe it out. Catholic leaders were sent to concentration camps. We recently celebrated the feasts of Edith Stein and Maximillian Kolbe who died at the hands of the Nazis. There is no such thing as harmless Nazi or Klan member. Racial hatred has no place. The Church should state that without mincing words. Why? Because our ancestors were victimized by racial and religious bias. Why? Because Jesus has given us the example of what love is. We say we are his followers there can be no compromise on love of neighbor. Certain Catholic Bishops are speaking out strongly, they come from all shades of the political spectrum. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, who is of native American heritage, who is one of our most conservative prelates said the following this week:
“Racism is a poison of the soul. It’s the ugly original sin of our country, an illness that has never really been healed. Blending with the Nazi salute, the relic of a regime that murdered millions, compounds the obscenity.”
We must also be clear that this is not a call to violence. No, it is a prayer for a conversion of heart. Violence, like racism, has no place in solving racial problems. The church in our diocese won acceptance by its good works. The hospitals schools and other charitable institutions that the church established changed minds. Catholics are now a part of the fabric of society. We wish that the demons of racial division will be driven away. Hopefully Jesus will say to us, “I see your great faith.” Today, we ask for spiritual healing for our land.
Please note this is a rough draft...grammar may not be perfect.