August 17, 2008

The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Holy Year of Paul, the Apostle

“Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said in reply, “O woman, great is your faith!”—Matthew 15:27-28

Dear Friends;

It is apparent to nearly everyone that the need for interfaith dialogue is more necessary than ever. Religion as a source of conflict is a reality with which all believing people of good will must reckon. Whether it is global terrorism or the struggles in the Balkans or the Middle East—religion plays a role and often contributes to the tensions.

When Christians try to enter the dialogue we are confronted with the exclusive claims of the New Testament for Jesus to be the unique and saving way to God. We find texts such as in John 14:6, “I am the way…” or Acts 4:12, “…nor is there any other name…by which we are to be saved.” So the challenge for Christians is how do we take Jesus seriously as the unique means by which God reaches out to humanity and at the same time seriously listen to those of other faiths?

In response to this question it seems that we can be tempted to one of two simplistic and unsatisfying positions. The one is what I would call the American Consumer Model. This says all religions are the same it is just a private choice and as long as the person gets something out of it that is great. This model sees religion as a private matter much like choosing brands of soap or flavors of ice cream. It fails to see religion in its real sense as a world view that is meant to connect people into the social fabric and whose ideas shape the societies in which we live.

The other response is the Fundamentalist approach. Here one takes selectively the things said as in the Scripture quotes above as the final word. Jesus is the only way so if you are Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Zoroastrian etc. then you are not saved and are going to hell. No provision is made for those non-Christians of good faith to be saved. They are only targets “to be saved.”

Today’s story from Matthew gives us another possible approach for those Christians interested in a serious interfaith dialogue. First, Jesus travels outside the traditional territory of the chosen people into “Tyre and Sidon.” Then Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman. She is related to the ancient pagan people of the area. Furthermore as a woman in a Patriarchal culture she shows an audacity in coming to Jesus, a Jewish teacher. She addresses him by a Jewish title, “Son of David.”

Initially Jesus rebuffs her request to heal her daughter. He indicates that his mission is to his own chosen people. When the woman persists he throws out the traditional Jewish epithet for non-Jews—dogs. “It is not right to give the food meant for the children to the dogs.” However the woman will not give up. “Even the dogs get the scraps.” At this point in the story you can almost see Jesus smile and say, “you got me there.” This is the only story in the Gospels where someone gets the best of the argument with Jesus. And it would seem to be a turning point in Jesus’ own understanding of his mission, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done as you wish.”

As in any true dialogue the participants become clearer on who they are. At the same time, both are changed by the encounter and go away with a new found respect. This should be the goal of any dialogue including interfaith dialogue. It is hard work to be clear about whom one is and at the same time to listen and respectfully appreciate the other.

In order for us to facilitate our understanding among the Peoples of the Book, coming in the end of October St. Anne Church will be having a series on the Abrahamic Religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Fr. Tom Bonacci, CP is a scripture scholar who works with The Interfaith Peace Project and Interfaith Connections will talk about these three important Traditions. It will begin on Tuesday evening, October 14 and run on Tuesdays for several weeks. So mark your calendars.

Peace,

Fr Ron