Healing Strangers and Aliens

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

We find ourselves in a time when we get daily reports on the many deportations of "illegals" and the demonization of strangers. Even our closest neighbors, Canada and Mexico are being tariffed. All of us, on all sides of the border suffer in both cases. Contrast that with our Gospel today, where we find Jesus going into the towns and homes of strangers, aliens and even what were traditional enemies. To each of these he brings healing. Despite his initial reluctance, the honesty and faithfulness of the desperate mother brings Jesus around. He never shirked from loving and healing all in need. No different nationality, no language difference are a barrier to our Savior. May we then be willing to cross the line, the differences and the awkward strangeness to bring Christ's love and healing to all.

Gracious Creator, who refuses no one

you embrace all of your diverse children

our tongues may sound different words

yet your love is the same for everyone.

We speak of borders you will not see

we hear of the dangers of the alien

we think we are superior to others

yet all of us need your healing today.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus to the suffering

no matter their language or pigment

help us to embrace the stranger among us

so we too might know your healing love. Amen.