One of the most powerful moments of the World Youth Day in Lisbon was when Pope Francis addressed (in Spanish) the young people gathered in Parque Eduardo VII with the following words, “In the Church, there is room for everyone (todos).” Reiterating his message, he then exhorted them, “There is room for everyone. All together now, repeat with me in your own language. Everyone, everyone, everyone…”
The crowd replied by shouting, “Todos, todos, todos…” Seemingly not satisfied, the Pope cupped his ear and said, “I can’t hear you…” To which the crowd of more than half a million responded with a more thunderous chorus of “todos, todos, todos…” which reverberated throughout the park.
In today’s liturgy, we find the same theme running through all the readings – that God loves everyone, that his saving plan includes everyone and excludes no one.
In the first reading, God tells Israel, the chosen people, that the foreigners who believe in him are equally dear to him. He will bring them to his holy mountain, and he will accept their burnt offerings on his altar.
The gospel is even more forceful in presenting the Canaanite woman as equally deserving of God’s favour. The first reactions of Jesus to the woman’s plea for her daughter’s cure dramatize the typical attitude of the Jews towards the gentiles – snobbery, rejection and outright derision (it is not right to throw the children’s food to the dogs). In the end, Jesus reveals his own attitude of mercy and recognizes the woman’s extraordinary faith. He grants her wish and heals her daughter. It is interesting to note that in the scriptures, Jesus commends only two people for such singular faith unparalleled throughout Israel: the Canaanite woman in today’s gospel and the Roman centurion who also asks for the cure of his servant (both gentiles, non-Israelites).
The responsorial psalm cannot not be more fitting. “May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide… O God, let all the nations praise you.”
I find no better homily for this Sunday than the Holy Father’s address which I mentioned. Allow me then to share some excerpts from his address. The first part focuses on the consoling truth that God loves us.
“You are not here by accident. The Lord has called you, not only in these days, but from the very beginning of your days. He called you by name… Why? Because we are loved. This is something beautiful. In God’s eyes, we are precious children, despite the fact that sometimes our own eyes are dimmed by negativity and dazzled by distractions… we are loved just as we are. Not as we want to be, but as we are now.”
Towards the end, the Pope highlights the all-inclusive character of God’s love. God loves everyone.
“Friends, I want to be clear with you, for you are allergic to falsity and empty words: in the Church, there is room for everyone. Everyone. In the Church, no one is left out or left over. There is room for everyone. Just the way we are. When he sends the apostles to invite people to the banquet which a man had prepared, he tells them: “Go out and bring in everyone”, young and old, healthy and infirm, righteous and sinners. Everyone, everyone, everyone! In the Church there is room for everyone… That is the Church, the Mother of all. There is room for everyone. The Lord does not point a finger, but opens his arms. It is odd: the Lord does not know how to do this (pointing), but that (opening wide). He embraces us all. He shows us Jesus on the cross, who opened his arms wide in order to be crucified and die for us.”
On his way back to Rome, the Pope held the traditional press conference on the plane. One journalist asked if his call for an all-inclusive Church includes the LGBTQ and other marginalized groups. The Pope answered with a categorical yes, and added that while the Church is open for everyone, there are also rules that regulate the life in the Church.
The Church is a mother, but she is also a teacher (mater et magistra). She does not only nurture her children. She also teaches them the Truth and the path to righteousness. She disciplines them to seek the will of God and pursue it.
Like every mother, the Church embraces all, Jews and gentiles alike, sinners and saints. And like the mother in today’s gospel, the Church loves everyone of her children, and more so those who are sick and fragile.