Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 9, 2012 - Thursday in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kgs 11:4-13 and Mark 7:24-30]Jesus went to the district of Tyre.....Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syropphoenician by birth.....
Those who may recall my reflection about "tassel-touchers" a few days ago should be alert to a person like the Syrophoenician woman. However, she is not going to just touch a tassel. She throws herself at Jesus' feet! Then begins a dialogue that some folks find a bit rough but the lady proves herself more than equal to Jesus' challenge! When he replies to her appeal for help that his response would be like robbing food from children (the Jews) and giving it to the dogs (pagans), she comes back at him with a response that even the dogs can eat the scraps that fall from the children's table! This reply impresses Jesus and the request is granted. It is her faith that makes the difference.
Faith is where you find it and no one has a right to determine that faith can exist in only one kind of person or group. Nor may anyone determine how God will respond to someone else's faith! Often the crowds around Jesus try to stifle someone who calls from beyond the crowd. He inevitably hears the distant call of faith and responds to it. Are we that welcoming and encouraging? AMEN
config
view
logs
3840.0 KB
80 ms
4
