Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 13, 2014 - Thursday in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kgs 11:4-13 and Mark 7:24-30][Jesus] said to her, "Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter."
February 13 - Bl. Jordan of Saxony [Immediate Successor of St. Dominic]
Part of the power of this story lies in the location: "the district of Tyre." This was not Jewish territory but rather Greek-language dominated and pagan. Another part of the power lies in its contrast with the story just before it, where Jesus is rejected by the Jewish religious authorities because of his teaching about food and other kosher customs. Thus, Jesus goes to the Gentiles and also recognizes faith in them, even if his priority was first to the Jews. This story would be an important tradition later on in the debates about accepting Gentiles without requiring Jewish observances.
Pastorally, in our own times, I encounter people who are not Catholic but who have that spark of faith that is recognizable in their seeking the truth that faith needs. This was particularly true in campus ministry. Faithful students would invite friends to come with them to Mass or to the Catholic student center. I had more than a few non-Catholic parishioners! One never knows why someone comes up in the communion line with arms crossed in front of them! Nor do I know necessarily that the extended palm is a Catholic one! I have to believe that, like the Syrophoenician woman, the one who comes believes in some way that the Lord can help them. They are also like the woman in the crowd who feels that she needs only to touch Jesus' garment! Also included are the ones who were once at the table and have left it for whatever reason. We have to preach to whoever comes and be willing to go looking for them as well. AMEN