The episode we hear today is found only in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew. Furthermore, it is only in Matthew that the Lord says: "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (Mt 15: 24) I think that the Matthean community needed to hear this message. As a mixed community of Gentiles and Jews, which is apparent from elsewhere in the Gospel, the revolutionary idea that both Jews and Gentiles could be united as Christians in the new Law, based not on Moses but on the Sermon on the Mount, was a challenge. As we heard last week St Paul was mindful of the priority of the Jews in the history of salvation: "They are the Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises, to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah..." (Rm 9: 4-5) It remains that the offer of Christ is available to them, as we hear in the Solemn Intercessions on Good Friday: "let us pray also for the Jewish people, to whom the Lord our God spoke first... graciously hear the prayers of your Church, the people you first made your own may attain the fulness of redemption." The woman begs: "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter tis tormented by a demon... Lord, help me." (Mt 15: 22 and 25) To the Jews, Jesus acknowledges their ancient Covenant: "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs" (Mt 15:26) while to the Gentiles the Lord responds to their faith: "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." (Mt 15: 28)
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