Faith

Last week we saw Jesus using little faith even as a term of endearment to adress his disciples. This week he uses Great faith to address a woman he and the disciples seem otherwise cold to.

Family and Mercy (Proper A15)

I remember watching a cartoon of Joseph receiving his brothers, and seeing my grandpa weep at the mercy he showed. "That's what Christ has done for me," he said.

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! Joseph's mercy brought the family back together. Isaiah declares God's intention to do the same, bringing all peoples into his house.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you

Paul declares that in accepting the Gentiles, his own tribe would not be lost. God's intention to bring all tribes to him is evident this week. Against this back drop we hear Jesus say that he was sent only to the lost tribes of Israel. In his silence and in his words, his mercy to the nations isn't seen, but in his actions it is.

Diocese of East Tennessee: Weekly Lectionary

"Today's readings call our attention to God's all-inclusive mercy. Isaiah affirms that God welcomes all who choose to follow the Lord. The psalmist calls for God's blessing and prays that all nations might recognize and worship God alone. Paul reminds the Roman community that the hopelessness of our disobedience lets God have mercy on us all. In the gospel, a bold Canaanite woman earns Jesus' approval by clinging to his mercy."

I like the idea of The Cannanite woman clinging to Jesus mercy. Even with lack of evidence that he and his disciples would be merciful to a gentile, she persists to cling to that hope. I want to explore this more and I think that the context from the week may lend help.