Even the Dogs

Sunday Lectionary: September 9th, 2018

 From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’ Mark 7:24-37

My younger sister and I used to be responsible for cleaning up the table after meals and doing dishes. We would be expected to sweep or vacuum under the table. As most children are (adults as well) we would get the dog to do the necessary sweeping. Instead of calling the dog by name we would instead say, "get the Hoover" or "get Electrolux". The dog responded to whatever we called her. She didn't care, as long as she got something to eat. As long as she felt part of the family she was happy.

Jesus was among foreign people with strange practices. He had been given gifts by God, but felt he was supposed to save them for his people. Yet, a desperate mother, full of love and fear, comes to him and moves his heart. He understands how important healing and welcome is, no matter the language, tribe or people. Her love expands his understanding and he goes on to make a deaf man hear and have normal speech. Love encouraged the Savior to expand his heart and his compassion. And we are invited to do likewise - expand our understanding and our hearts.

Today, I ask God to stretch me, to expand my heart and my understanding. As we face new challenges and strange circumstances in the coming days, may we take strength from knowing Jesus had to grow and stretch in ministry.