Homily on the 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time
In one office I had, I had a carving of a duck named Philip. He was on the end table between my chair and the chair the other person would sit in. Often during the course of our conversation, I would use Philip to make the point that we often have only one view of things and this may not be helpful. I would point out that I say one side of Philip and the person saw the other side. My reasoning was that when we get locked into one way of seeing ourselves or events, then change becomes very hard.
We all have different perspectives of people and events; none of them right or wrong. All of today’s readings are about God’s perspective. He sees all people as his children making no distinctions. Unlike us who may only see one side of person, story, or event, God see it all. He sees beyond national boundaries, race, religion or whatever else seems to divide us.
I cannot imagine what the people of Israel must have felt when Isaiah proclaimed today’s prophesy or the disciples when Jesus actually engaged in a conversation with a woman and a non-Israeli. The people in Babylon had been told they were the Chosen People and God’s favorite. We see this even carried through to Jesus’ day, but this time it is being a believer in Jesus that sets us apart.
One way to start adopting God’s view is what I see many of you doing when you are here. You see an unfamiliar face and welcome them. Some of you ask their names or smile. People often remark to me how welcome they feel when they come in the doors. This is seeing beyond the externals or only seeing what we want to see.
It is not always easy but even Jesus himself had to learn that his mission was to everyone not to just one group. In his humanity, he was like us. He grew up and learned to be suspicious of the stranger or people from other places. But the woman in today’s gospel, did not argue with him but gently taught him the reality of his own mission. He was here to save all people without question or even if they did not know they needed to be saved.
So, today’s lesson is to take the risk and see the world and each other with God’s sight. May we all allow people to teach us the beauty of each other and may God gives us the vision to see each other from a different angle.
