Help and acceptance.

Like every person, we have rights or claims to certain things in our lives. These are either rights that we acquire during our lifetime or requests that we receive at the moment of conception and therefore, as part of our life, no one can take them away from us. But let’s think about it. What about the claim or right to the kingdom of God? Does every person have it, or do they not have it?

In today’s Gospel, we hear the words: “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the puppies. Lord, even puppies eat the crumbs of children under the table.” (Mk 7:27-28).
These words were the words of today’s Gospel dialogue between Christ and the Gentile Syrophoenician woman. But what do these words mean? First of all, it must be said that Jews and Gentiles had no love for each other and that Christ came into this world mainly for the sake of the chosen Jewish people because they were the children of God. Let’s take a closer look at the words Christ used in response to a Gentile woman’s request that He heal her daughter. They are somewhat harsh words, for, in addition to likening the Gentiles to puppies, with these words, He seemed to be saying: “What do you want from me, for you are not of the chosen people, you do not belong to the children of YHWH, and them alone belongs the kingdom of God!” But Christ used these words deliberately. He did not mean to say that he only cared about the Jews because he came for the sake of all people, to bring salvation to all, and to give them a claim to the kingdom of God. Jesus, however, waited to see what the Gentile woman would answer him. And her response? She humbly accepts what Christ has said, but at the same time points out that if the puppies in families are entitled to what falls from the table or the hands of children, even if it is only tiny crumbs, so too are the Gentiles allowed to at least a crumb of the kingdom of God.

So we can see from this Gospel dialogue today that indeed every person has a claim to the kingdom of God, no matter what they are. But not only to the kingdom of God, but also to help, our help. Christ, Himself, gives us an example in this, that we must always help every person if they sincerely ask us to do so, whether they are a Gentile, a homeless person, a gypsy, an enemy, or a neighbor we do not like. But let us think. Are we following in Christ’s footsteps? Do we help those who ask us? And how do we accept or treat those who don’t go to church, who are of another religion, or those who don’t believe in God? Don’t we sometimes alienate them? Don’t we sometimes treat them as the Jews once treated the Gentiles? If so, why? Are they not also children of God? For God created everyone.
To follow in Christ’s footsteps requires, in addition to firm faith, trust, and love, great sacrifice. But not just anyone can do it. Not everyone, like Christ, can accept another, anyone, and help him if he asks for this help, but only he can do it who sees in the other no one else but Christ Himself.

And such was also Mother Teresa. She understood perfectly what Christ asks of each one of us. His example became a daily part of her life, and it showed, for she sacrificed herself as Christ did for others. She came to those who had been alienated by others, to those who had been marginalized, those who no one cared about anymore. She came to their aid. She cared for them, she taught them, she tended their wounds, she built hospitals for them, and she did all of this no matter what kind of person they were because she looked at each one of them as Christ and as a person who was asking for help. And when he asks, that help must be given.

Let us also become like Mother Teresa and thus prove to Christ that he is our model and that we put the example he gave us into practice in our lives.

Let us, therefore, pray at this Holy Mass that during our lifetime, we may not alienate anyone and always be able to welcome any person with love and help anyone who sincerely asks for this help.