The Humility and Faith of the Canaanite Woman

The Canaanite woman who approached Jesus about her demon-possessed daughter was an outsider. She did not belong. And this was apparent even to the disciples who asked Jesus to send her away. Jesus himself agreed: I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And she herself did not disagree. She knew she didn't belong here, in the presence of the Christ, the Holy One of Israel. So also must we have a healthy awareness that we don't belong here either. Here, in this place, are angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven: the prophets, the patriarchs, King David, the Blessed Apostles, St. Peter, Mary Magdalene, the greatest people in all the history of the world. So what are we doing here,  then? We don't belong either. We are miserable, worthless, merit-less sinners. So learn from this woman to know you place: Truth, Lord. Yet the dogs eat of the crumbs. She nonetheless knew of his kindness and mercy. This is the only thing that gives us access to the Holy Place of God, to his sanctuary. And this we have, for he gives us his righteousness to be received by the same faith as she had. Sermon for Reminiscere. The video is here.