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| Image by Pexels from Pixabay |
“It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
What in the name of good news is going on here?
This woman came to Jesus desperate for her daughter’s healing, and he calls her a dog?! This mama has no time for insults, she needs her daughter to be well! She summons all her wit and tenacity and has the audacity to talk back to Jesus. He, in turn, listens and heals her daughter.
For context:
Jesus is in the region of Tyre. Tyre is a city on the coast of the Mediterranean, about 40 miles from Genessaret where we last heard Jesus was teaching. That’s 40 miles on the map, probably further on the roads. In ancient days, that was a long way. Tyre and Sidon are Gentile territories with more Greek influence. Nonetheless, the woman in this story crosses any number of cultural norms as she enters a house without invitation, seeks an audience alone with a strange man, and speaks boldly and directly to him of her deepest desire, and have the last word.
Jesus did not want anyone to know he was there, so perhaps he was surprised to see this woman. And then irritated and impatient, or perhaps curious at her audacity. We don’t know because Mark doesn’t give any sense of the tone of his voice.
Jesus recognizes the SyroPhoenician woman’s genuine faith.
She has a deep conviction about what is right and just and important (her daughter’s life and health).
She is tenacious; creative and courageous in her approach; she utilizes every resource she has (her wit, insight, impertinence).
She models for us individually and as a community how faith reflects the mission of the One in whom we place our trust.
In the Jesus narrative, this story illustrates that the message of God’s loving, liberating, justice-bringing kingdom is for EVERY person. Even the ones the historically Jewish community would have spat upon and derided as “dogs.”
God’s mission is tenacious, living, and always expanding. With a generosity that sometimes feels uncomfortable as it challenges our ideas of who is worthy to share our resources, sit at our table, benefit from our taxes, speak their truths aloud and change our minds and actions.
Today, here at Trinity, we are engaging our curiosity and tenacity to live into God’s mission.
In observing the Season of Creation, the words of our worship draw our attention to the diversity and wonders of God’s creation - people, planet, and animals. Even as we marvel at the Creation, our baptismal promises guide us to seek justice and dignity for every human being as we steward our planet’s resources to feed and nurture life for generations to come. In our comfort with the social, economic, and political narratives we have learned, whose voice and experience are we deaf to?
Curiosity and tenacity for loving and serving God are taking our diaconal postulant Nathan to a new community, to an internship forming him for future ministry. We will send him with our blessings and eagerly await news of his learnings. Nathan has been the main chef for our 3rd Sunday community meals. Our Trinity community will be rallying together to lean into God’s mission of feeding hungry people every month. What joy and creativity will emerge as we together share food- and hospitality-shaped love with our neighbors?
Like the SyroPhoenician woman, we desire health for our children and youth. Young people remind us of the joy of learning and discovering new things about our world, about skills for navigating ever-changing environments, and the many emotions we feel. In Seattle, public schools returned to the classroom this past week. At the end of our service today, we will bless our students and educators, praying for their curiosity and openness, generosity and kindness. Even as we draw a sigh of relief for the structured schedules of school days, we cannot ignore the very real issues of violence, hunger, racism, and poverty that are woven into the fabric of our education system. How will we continue to advocate audaciously for our children’s and educators’ social, mental, and physical health?
“Be opened.” Jesus’ heart was opened to see and share good news with the Gentiles. Our God continues revealing new, more expansive grace, inviting us to bring good news of love and liberation with every resource we have. Jesus opens OUR ears and releases our tongues to proclaim God’s grace through curiosity and tenacity. Be opened!
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