Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, March 15, 2019
by Daniel D. Maurer, Clergy Stuff
We can derive two understandings from today’s daily devotional reading. One is that the Canaanite woman was exceptionally clever (and cheeky) in her sharp repartee to Jesus. The other is that Jesus himself was corrected by the woman and had to expand his understanding of God’s grace and its purpose for all people, not just the Jews.
Personally, I think it’s probably a little of both!
I love this story, because it has everything clever in it. And, of course, it mentions dogs in the Bible. And everybody loves dogs, right?
Well, in the ancient world, not really. Dogs ate garbage and devoured those executed on the cross. To call someone a “dog” is akin to us calling a woman a “bitch.” It’s offensive.
But the woman didn’t take offense in the story in Matthew. Instead, she reinterprets God’s real purpose of sharing God’s faith.
Amazing. If we call could have such bold faith!
Help me live a bold faith, even like the Canaanite woman, dear God. Amen.
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