Dear Friends,

In this Gospel from Matthew, Jesus is busy about his ministry, with more than enough needs to attend to, when he meets up with a woman... a 'foreign woman' who cries out for him to heal her daughter who is 'tormented by a demon' (it doesn't specify if the 'demon' is human or spiritual J) The disciples, annoyed with this woman for speaking up (close to a crime for a woman in those days... and dangerous even today!)... want Jesus to send her away, and Jesus attempts to brush off her request with the claim that he was "sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel". In other words, your problem isn't mine... there's nothing I can do about it!! Jesus says:
"It's not right to take the food of the children and give it to the dogs."

This woman, though, is like a dog with a bone, and she's not about to let go! She is a woman with a child in need, and the 'mother lion' in her compares her situation to that of  "dogs who are allowed  to eat the scraps that fall from the table." Jesus, seemingly coming to admire her courage and perseverance is moved... moved to see beyond the barriers that he had moved within, to extend his healing power to this woman not of 'his kind'. In this experience, this interaction with a non-Jew, and a woman at that, Jesus comes to know himself and to understand his mission more clearly.

IMAGINE! Jesus listened to the experience of a woman, and learned something!   Might we hope that one day, the leaders of our male hierarchical institution will do likewise?  A very courageous Maryknoll priest, Fr. Roy Bourgeois preached at the Ordination of an RCWP priest last weekend, and is being called before his superiors and council to explain his actions.  In his homily, Fr. Roy shared:

I have been a Catholic priest for 36 years and I must say, more than ever before, I am convinced that women should be ordained in the Catholic church. The hierarchy will say, "It is the tradition of the church not to ordain women." I grew up in a small town in Louisiana and often heard, "It is the tradition of the South to have segregated schools." It was also "the tradition" in our Catholic church to have the Black members seated in the last five pews of the church. No matter how hard we may try to justify discrimination, in the end, it is always wrong and immoral. As Reverend Nancy Taylor of Boston put it, "Prejudice in liturgical clothing is still prejudice"...

Conscience is something very sacred. It gives us a sense of right and wrong and urges us to do the right thing. Conscience is what compelled Franz Jagerstatter to refuse to enlist in Hitler's army. On this day, August 9, 1943, this humble farmer was executed for following his conscience. Conscience is what compelled Rosa Parks to say, "No, I cannot sit in the back of the bus anymore." Conscience is what compels Janice Sevre-Duszynska and the other women to say, "No, we cannot deny our call from God to the priesthood." And it is our conscience that compels us to be here today..."

We invite you to join us in supporting Fr. Roy as he meets on Monday with his superiors.  You can email them at the following:

General Superior Rev. John Sivalon –  jsivalon@maryknoll.org
The Maryknoll Council – mklcouncil@maryknoll.org
OR  Fax at 914.944.3600   (nothing like a ton of paper on your desk to catch one's eye)

At Spirit of Life we are women and men, unafraid to speak the truth, to call on God's help, and to offer our gifts as God calls us to do.  Together we are creating a community where and inclusivity are lived realities.  We try wholehearted to "be Christ" to one another, and we warmly invite you to come, and gather with us at our Table.  If you are seeking a community to support  you as your deepen and grow in your relationship with God, we invite you to come and  celebrate with us at the Spirit of Life as we are lovingly present to one another in working to build Community together.  We are an inclusive, open, affirming and interactive community, deeply committed to being a people of 'justice and joy.'

May the loving Spirit of God nourish you in these remaining days of summer, and may you allow your love and care for others to overflow into our world, which is so much in need of kindness and care,

Find more about past weekly reflections and podcasts in our ARCHIVE PAGE.