Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
10 Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 12 Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” 16 Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. 19 For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.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.
The Heart's Faith and Purity
This Sunday's Gospel links two main parts of the Lord's teaching, which seem apparently different, but are essentially related. The first deals with Jesus' response to the Pharisees and the elders about purity and impurity, which belong to the oral tradition that was composed by human minds. The second section deals with a pagan woman who "has no faith" (per Jewish law) and is considered impure. The first deals with external impurity while the second refers to an internal and permanent impurity.
In this first section, Jesus is correcting the concept about external and internal impurity. He reminds the Pharisees that their human teaching is far away from God's teaching that's found in Moses' law.
The second section, with the pagan woman, shows that faith is more in the heart than in customs and rituals.
Jesus makes no distinction between nations. They are all God's creation and deserve His love and mercy. Hearts are truer than rituals and human customs. Jesus is transforming the concept that His disciples have about how to consider all nations, and never to categorize any nation outside of Israel as dogs. When Jesus refers to dogs (V. 26), He is only reflecting the disciples' concept of other nations. He brought them to a foreign region for the specific purpose of teaching them that all nations are equal and may have faith.
We are invited to reflect that:
True purity is internal and from the heart, bypassing any external one. Purify the heart more than the hands.
Respect God's teaching much more than human bylaws.
Worship God with a pure heart, not only with washed hands.
Never disgrace humans who are all in God's image by describing them as dogs or using similar demeaning titles. Rather, acknowledge their human dignity and pay them full respect.
Think about the disciples and how they changed their concept about other nations. After their time with Jesus, they obeyed His command to, "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
Remember that the washing of hands as Pilate did (Matthew 27:24), doesn't wash your heart or your conscience.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" Matthew 22:37.