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

A mother. We will do anything to help make our children get better. All parents and partners ache for the ones we love to get well. This one mother confronts Jesus, and although she was a gentile and a foreigner, she got her love and concern across. Nothing would keep her from the care and healing of her child. Jesus sees in her that fierce love that comes from God and which is embedded in all of us. And we can speak to Jesus as she did, since, because of her, we now know we are all be welcomed to the love and healing of our Creator. She broke the barriers, shuttled the assumptions and opened the way for all.

Creating God, you are the source of all love

you are the one who brings us healing 

you touch our hearts and touch our eyes

so that we might see and hear you anew.

We often put limits on love and inclusion

though you crossed all lines and borders

shattering assumptions about God's chosen

calling all creation as your dearly beloved.

Help us to live as your offspring today 

let our prayers be fervent and always hopeful

make us those who sing your love and praise

as we serve the ones who need you the most. Amen.