Crumbs

"Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²²A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment." - Matthew 15:21-28

There are several directions one could go whilst studying this story. First, note that the lady was not Jewish. She was from Canaan. 

And note that Jesus said, " I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Interesting. What about us Gentiles?

We need to keep in mind that Jesus was Jewish and so were the disciples and ALL of the Israelites. As Paul writes:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." - Romans 1:16

I am a Gentile. Therefore I am one of the dogs eating the crumbs that fall from my master's table.

The world just watched the Pope's funeral. He was "a dog" just like I am a dog.

We see all the cardinals in their ornate red robes, looking so "religious," and I think about the tax collectors and prostitutes in Jesus' day. And the thief on the cross. All they had was their faith.

"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹²On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." - Matthew 9:10-12

All "religion" is man-made. So are the means by which a new pope is selected. Think back to the book of Acts. They simply met in each other's homes. Jesus was their head. Compare that visual with what happens at St. Peter's Basilica when a pope dies.

Would Jesus have wanted that? Or would He have preferred something more like his donner at Matthew's house? Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemus were the only ones that attended our Lord's funeral. Hmm.

Was the Canaanite woman the beginning of hope for the Gentiles? Or was this God's plan from the beginning? I for one am grateful to eat the crumbs that have fallen from my Master's table. So incredibly grateful.