The gatecrasher

Jesus left that place and went off to the territory near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman who lived in that region came to him. ‘Son of David!’ she cried out. ‘Have mercy on me! My daughter has a demon and is in a terrible condition.’

But Jesus did not say a word to her. His disciples came to him and begged him, ‘Send her away! She is following us and making all this noise!’ (verses 21-23)

Read Matthew 15:21-28

There are some events you just don’t gatecrash. Take a family coming-of-age party. Relatives and close friends are gathered together, it’s time for the toasts and the speeches, and somebody walks in off the street and imposes themself loudly and grossly on the private party. Reprehensible behaviour undeserving of acceptance and sympathy.

Can’t you just sense the social embarrassment of the disciples, who can’t whisk Jesus away quickly enough from this loud woman who was following him and calling on his help? After all, she was not a Jew, just another Gentile, a despicable Canaanite. She was just a gatecrasher, forcing herself on Jesus and his entourage. As such she was totally undeserving of acceptance and sympathy.

When we read on in the story, we discover that Jesus, once he reassures himself of the genuineness of her faith, treats her with acceptance and sympathy. This is so reassuring to me, because I’m a bit of an undeserving gatecrasher at Jesus’ party myself!

Dear God, thank you for giving me the attention, the love, the sympathy, the acceptance and the forgiveness I do not deserve. Amen.

by Richard Hauser, in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

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