Sermon on the Canaanite Woman: Entitlement vs. Humility in the Kingdom
For a number of weeks, we have been reflecting on the parables of the kingdom of heaven. Even though, as we continue into the 15th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus no longer explicitly says he is speaking in parables about the kingdom, we can safely assume that his teaching remains centered on it. What is Jesus ushering in if not this new kingdom—a new way of life, a new way of thinking, and a new way of approaching reality? In Matthew 15, we see a beautiful display of what it truly means to exist in the kingdom of heaven rather than in the kingdom of this world.
In today’s Gospel, we meet two groups of people: one belonging to the kingdom of this world and the other to the kingdom of heaven. Notice how Jesus pushes against the faith of both groups. He challenges them, teaches them, and unveils deep truths, yet each group responds in a radically different way.
The Spirit of Entitlement
First, we see the Pharisees. They come to Jesus already completely sure of their own standing. When Jesus names a truth that is intended to stretch their faith, they are offended. They walk away upset with a defensive posture. They feel entitled—entitled to approval, entitled to respect, and entitled to spiritual standing. Whenever someone challenges their way of being or their ordering of religious life, they fade away. They are not open, resilient, or willing to listen.
Here we see the spirit of entitlement as the ruling spirit of the kingdom of this world. It is a mindset that says, “I am entitled to be affirmed; I am entitled to receive more; I am entitled to see myself as a victim who is never recognized as I should be.” This is what characterizes the Pharisees, and it is what characterizes anyone who embraces the kingdom of this world.
The Persistent Faith of the Canaanite Woman
Then we meet the Canaanite woman. She comes with a desperate need: her daughter is severely oppressed. In the culture of the day, a Canaanite woman was considered a nobody, someone who did not deserve anything. The key here is that even when Jesus points out her standing, she does not protest. She doesn’t claim victimhood, nor does she claim entitlement. She simply accepts who she is in that society.
Yet, she comes with deep faith, asking for help—even if it is just for the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. She answers with remarkable humility and persistence: “Lord, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” She does not demand her rights or claim that she deserves special treatment. She simply keeps asking, trusting that even a small gift of grace from the Lord is enough.
Her attitude is not one of entitlement, but one rooted in humility, a clear-eyed knowledge of her own need, and a quiet acceptance of her reality.
Two spirits stand before us: one is closed, defensive, and entitled; the other is open, humble, and full of faith. One walks away offended; the other receives a miracle.
Staying in Our Own Lane
There is a story told about the composer Mozart. A 22-year-old musician came to him and said, “Mozart, can you help me? I would like to compose symphonies.” Mozart replied, “How old are you?” The young man said, “I’m 22.” Mozart told him, “You’re too young to compose symphonies. You should start with smaller pieces and work your way up.” The young man protested, “But you were composing symphonies when you were only 12!” Mozart responded, “Yes, but I wasn’t walking around asking people how to do it.”
It is so important that entitlement doesn’t lead us to constantly crave a different kind of life than the one we have been given. Every one of us has received plenty. The lesson here is not that we should stop dreaming, hoping, or praying for grace and help. Rather, we must pray without the spirit of entitlement or victimhood, approaching God instead with the spirit of the kingdom of heaven: humility, faith, and perseverance.
We must refuse the spirit that says, “I deserve more, and I want what others have.” Choose instead the spirit that says, “Lord, even the crumbs of your grace are what I will accept, because I have already received far more than I deserve.” That is what it means to live in the kingdom of heaven.
Overcoming the Offended Heart
Approaching the Lord with humility means acknowledging that we must come as ourselves, not as someone else. It is easy to look at everyone around us and think, “I wish I had more; I wish I were different.” Instead, like the Canaanite woman, we ought to say, “I know who I am, and I do not deserve what I have received, yet I come with faith.”
Notice that she does not get offended when Jesus presses her faith. How easy it would have been to walk away and say, “How dare you say this to me?” In today’s world—whether in politics or religion—we love to take a defensive stance. But when we do, what happened to the Pharisees happens to us: we walk away offended before we can receive God’s blessing.
That is the ultimate tragedy: when we allow ourselves to be so easily offended by the difficulties of our lives, we walk away rather than humbly receiving what God offers. A spirit of gratitude, faith, and humility is what grounds us in the kingdom of heaven. That is where we, as followers of Jesus, must live and remain.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Father Wojtek Kuzma