Prejudice is a cancer in our society and world

We have all experienced racial discrimination and even racial hatred. We may have been the victim of others’ prejudices or may have come to realize our own biases toward others. When someone has different characteristics, features, or religious practices, we become suspicious and wonder why they are not like us.

I heard a young person say the other day, “All Muslims are evil.” She probably never met a Muslim and was generalizing on what she had heard and seen through the media about Muslim extremists who want to destroy our way of life. What she did not know was most Muslims are very loving people who want to live in peace with everyone.

Prejudice toward others is a cancer in our society and in our world. It was no different in Jesus’ day. Jews called everyone who was not Jewish, a Gentile. In other words, if you weren’t Jewish, whatever was your race or culture of origin was not important.

Jews often used derogatory terms in speaking about Gentiles, calling them either “dogs” or “swine.” In Matthew’s gospel, a Canaanite woman comes to ask Jesus to cure her daughter. Jesus reminds the woman that his mission is to the lost tribes of Israel. He says, “It is not right to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”

This statement is certainly out of character for Jesus. He was not a prejudiced person. Jesus often spoke in public with women and Gentiles, something a “good Jew” would never do.

Perhaps Jesus was momentarily giving the impression that he shared the prejudice of his fellow Jews. He was probably testing the Canaanite woman’s faith.

We should also note that the word for “dog” used here is a house dog, part of the family. Jesus is not referring to a wild street dog.

The woman rises above the apparent prejudice and does not retaliate for being insulted. Like any good mother she is willing to do anything for her child. As a Gentile, it was humiliating for her to kneel before Jesus and ask for his help and she had to be ready to accept any insult that a Jew, even a good Jew, would give her.

Once insulted, she could have turned away or returned insult for insult, but she controlled her rage and respected Jesus. She responded with a deep faith, saying: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” This nobility of spirit in the woman, rising above all prejudice and pettiness, so impressed Jesus that he praised her faith and granted her wish.

The Canaanite woman is a model for us. She believed that Jesus could and would heal her daughter. She persisted in her request. We have to approach Jesus with the same faith, the same determination, the same perseverance in prayer. Our hearts also have to be open to people who are different from us, people of other races and nationalities and religions. We have to be willing to humble ourselves in respecting others, recognizing their gifts and asking their help.

We must be determined never to return insult for insult, hate for hate, evil with evil, but should respond to all injuries with love.

Prejudice of any kind should have no place in our hearts or in our world if God’s kingdom is to be established. Prejudice based on race, religion, nationality, color, economic or social status, gender or sexual preference has no place in the Body of Christ.

We are all one in Christ. We have to show the courage and determination to be as magnanimous as the Canaanite woman and rise above all prejudice, no matter what prejudice might be shown toward us.