Word to the Wise
Thursday, February 13, 2020 - Thursday in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kgs 11:4-13 and Mark 7:24-30,404]"Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Then [Jesus] said to her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter." [Mark]
The story of the Syro-Phoenician woman's faith and Jesus' reply calls our attention to a simple but provocative question: Who is acceptable to God? Jesus gave a priority in his ministry to Jews. We must not forget that he was Jewish himself. The healing of the daughter of the Syro-Phoenician woman reflects a prevailing cultural prejudice (Gentiles were called "dogs" by Jews) which is overcome by Jesus' response to her plea. She showed faith in him, in contrast to the Jewish authorities and others who were rejecting him. The later mission to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, which Paul would champion, could find its roots in this incident.
In our own time, we do not have to look very far to find cultural prejudice. Anytime we see discrimination because of race, color, sexual orientation, economic status, or ethnic origins (this gospel) we are in the area of cultural prejudice. If we indulge this prejudice, we are basically saying that God shows favorites and that certain members of the human race are not really made in the image and likeness of God or that God should not have allowed them to exist!!! In the Gospel According to Matthew, where this story is also presented, the disciples try to get Jesus to "send her away; she keeps shouting at us!" [Matt. 15:21-28]. Are WE deciding who has faith and is acceptable to God? History of our own Catholic church reveals this to be true. American history shows it over and over again. Prejudice is a very difficult vice to root out. But Jesus' own example challenges us to make the effort to do exactly that! AMEN