Jesus teaches us to offer everyone a full feast, not our leftovers.
Matthew 15:22-28 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." 23 But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." 26 He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." 27 She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." 28 Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
In seminary, I had a whole semester class on these verses. The class was entitled "The Eucharist of Crumbs" - a terrific class that questioned if those living on the margins of society (the poor, women, people of other races and lifestyles) are offered only the crumbs that fall from our tables instead of the full Eucharist (the full communion - the complete Lord's Supper - the whole body and blood of Christ). Jesus seems so unlike himself in these verses. First Jesus ignores the woman who is begging him to help her daughter. But she is determined (thank God for people who are determined to intercede for those unable to help themselves - like this mother is for her daughter). Shockingly the words that Jesus says to the woman are cruel, mean, and uncaring. He calls the woman (actually all of us Gentiles) "dogs". Ouch! Is this man who taught us to love and respect everyone serious? Is he pushing the woman to give her an opportunity to demonstrate her faith? Is he reacting sarcastically to his disciples who want him to send her away so they don't have to hear her beg any longer? Are his words meant to shock the disciples and invoke compassion for her? Compassion is certainly the affect it has on me - and confussion about how Jesus is acting. But in the end, Jesus affirms her faith, heals her daughter, and demonstrates that he offers her the full communion. It is the fact that she has faith in Jesus that matters, not her pedigree or standing in society.
Do we ignore Jesus' example to offer everyone God's abundant feast and not the crumbs that fall from our table?
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