Even the Dogs

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

Up until recently we had a dog named Petey. She was a pound dog and was 15 when she left us. I miss her for many reasons, least of which is the fact that if food dropped from the table, she would clean it up willingly, even if we did not want her to. Mark and I have always had dogs (and cats), and my family always had a dog. I used to call our family dog (whichever one it was at the time) by nicknames including, Hoover and Electrolux, since they were so good at cleaning up. The woman who aches for healing for her child, is willing to push back at him and talk about dogs. Jesus, new to his ministry, was still figuring out his own limitations. The Syrophoenician woman spoke for all of us, and declared for us all, that God's love and healing have no limitations.

Loving Creator, limitless and boundless

we humans divide and define one another

yet you see us all as your beloved children

and welcome us all at your expansive table.

There is heartache and sorrow in our world

too much violence, not enough inclusion

humanity and kindness have been lost

to divisions of creed, culture and politics.

Your love is not controlled by any of us

you give freely and heal each freely

let us live today as your beloved offspring

and see our neighbors as your also. Amen.