Replies

From: Jeremiah 31:1-7

Restoration promised

[1] “At that time, says the LORD, I will be the God of all the families of Israel,
and they shall be my people.”

[2] Thus says the LORD:
“The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness;
when Israel sought for rest,
[3] the LORD appeared to him from afar.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
[4] Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
O virgin Israel!
Again you shall adorn yourself with timbrels,
and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
[5] Again you shall plant vineyards
upon the mountains of Samaria;
the planters shall plant,
and shall enjoy the fruit.
[6] For there shall be a day when watchmen will call
in the hill country of Ephraim:
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
to the LORD our God.’”

[7] For thus says the Lord:
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘The Lord has saved his people,
the remnant of Israel.’

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Commentary:

31:1-14. The oracles in this chapter hinge on the promise that Israel will relive its
experiences of earlier times, when it enjoyed the love and protection of God, its
father and shepherd, as it made its way through the wilderness to find tranquility
in the promised land.

The prophet again predicts the happy return of the exiles (vv. 2-3) and the resto-
ration of Israel and of the holy city, here given the glorious name of Zion (vv. 4-6).
The people will return home rejoicing at the goodness of God (vv. 7-9), who will
continue to shower blessings on them (vv. 10-14). The passage stresses the
kindness shown by God. He reveals himself as “a father to Israel” (v. 9) and
“shepherd” to his flock (v. 10), for he is faithful to the love he has for them (v. 3).

Referring to this and other passages in the prophetical books that speak of God’s
tender mercy, Bl. John Paul II pointed out that “it is significant that in their prea-
ching the prophets link mercy, which they often refer to because of the people’s
sins, with the incisive image of love on God’s part. The Lord loves Israel with the
love of a special choosing, much like the love of a spouse (cf. e.g. Hos 2:21-25;
Is 54:6-8), and for this reason he pardons its sins and even its infidelities and
betrayals. When he finds repentance and true conversion, he brings his people
back to grace (cf. Jer 31:20; Ezek 39:25-29). In the preaching of the prophets,
mercy signifies a special power of love, which prevails over the sin and infidelity
of the chosen people. [...] Connected with the mystery of creation is the mystery
of the election, which in a special way shaped the history of the people whose
spiritual father is Abraham by virtue of his faith. Nevertheless, through this people
which journeys forward through the history both of the Old Covenant and of the
New, that mystery of election refers to every man and woman, to the whole great
human family. ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have conti-
nued my faithfulness to you’ (Jer 31:3)” (”Dives in Misericordia”, 4).

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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Matthew 15:21-28

The Canaanite Woman

[21] And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and
Sidon. [22] And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and
cried, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely pos-
sessed by a demon.” [23] But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples
came and begged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying 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] And He answered,
“It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” [27] She said,
“Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
[28] Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you
as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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Commentary:

21-22. Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast, in
present-day Lebanon. They were never part of Galilee but they were near its
north-eastern border. In Jesus’ time they were outside the territory of Herod Anti-
pas. Jesus withdrew to this area to escape persecution from Herod and from the
Jewish authorities and to concentrate on training His Apostles.

Most of the inhabitants of the district of Tyre and Sidon were pagans. St. Mat-
thew calls this woman a “Canaanite”; according to Genesis (10:15), this district
was one of the first to be settled by the Canaanites; St. Mark describes the wo-
man as a “Syrophoenician” (Mark 7:26). Both Gospels point out that she is a
pagan, which means that her faith in our Lord is more remarkable; the same
applies in the case of the centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).

The Canaanite woman’s prayer is quite perfect: she recognizes Jesus as the
Messiah (the Son of David)—which contrasts with the unbelief of the Jews; she
expresses her need in clear, simple words; she persists, undismayed by obsta-
cles; and she expresses her request in all humility: “Have mercy on me.” Our
prayer should have the same qualities of faith, trust, perseverance and humility.

24. What Jesus says here does not take from the universal reference of His tea-
ching (cf. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16). Our Lord came to bring His Gos-
pel to the whole world, but He Himself addressed only the Jews; later on He will
charge His Apostles to preach the Gospel to pagans. St. Paul, in his missionary
journeys, also adopted the policy of preaching in the first instance to the Jews
(Acts 13:46).

25-28. This dialogue between Jesus and the woman is especially beautiful. By
appearing to be harsh He so strengthens the woman’s faith that she deserves
exceptional praise: “Great is your faith!” Our own conversation with Christ should
be like that: “Persevere in prayer. Persevere, even when your efforts seem barren.
Prayer is always fruitful” (St. J. Escriva, “The Way”, 101).

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.