For it is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs."
It seems like Jesus is saying no to this Syrophoenician woman. Her daughter is possessed by a demon. That has to break a mother's heart. It pushes her to ask Jesus for a cure even though he is a Jew and she is aware of how Jews see Greeks. It pushes her to hope that Jesus, famous for his compassion and healings, will not look at her in the same way. But he does. Or at least it seems that way. He calls her a dog. OK, the term is more endearing. He calls her a puppy. But even so, it isn't the response for which she hopes. She still finds herself categorized as a Greek. It is easy to infer from here many things. She might easily imagine that Jesus is saying that there is only enough food for the children, the Jews, and that the dogs will not be fed.
Yet Jesus does not deny her request. It would be easy for the heart without faith to hear denial. But Jesus never implies that the food is limited. He does not say 'Only feed the children' but rather "Let the children be fed first." And indeed they are. He comes first and foremost for the lost sheep is Israel. This is the privilege of the covenant people. But the message is destined to be shared with the world. And even now there are scraps enough for the puppies around who are wise enough to gather around the table.
The woman's faith is able to see in Jesus one who is generous. She is not deterred whether she is dog or puppy or child. She isn't at all concerned with who she is. If she were concerned about that she might despair of Jesus's help. But instead she is only concerned with Jesus. She is concerned with what he can do and what he wants to do. She perceives his abundance, generosity, and compassion regardless of the apparent limitations of her own social status. Jesus gives her a test. 'Can you forgot yourself and look only at me?' By his grace she can and does.
"For saying this, you may go.
The demon has gone out of your daughter."
In many ways this attitude of the woman recaptures the attitude of Adam and Eve who "were both naked, yet they felt no shame." Jesus leaves his Father and comes to his bride, the Church of whom this woman is destined to be a part. Yet in order for this marriage to be consummated preoccupation with self must be set aside. Adam and Eve feel no shame until they eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. But ever after all people feel shame when they are exposed to others. There is always the risk that they will be exploited, used, and treated as objects. There is always the risk that they will be regarded as dogs and left unfed. The only way past this risk is faith in Jesus. In him we first discover a love that is never selfish and which always regards the other with dignity. The woman is able to see this love in Jesus even when he challenges her. She may be a puppy. But even if that is true she sees a love which will raise her up as a daughter.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sonsf of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (cf. Rom. 8:14-17).
What is the invitation this morning? It is to discover a love that doesn't care about worldly categories. It is to discover a love that will never use and abuse (*cough*Shades of Gray*cough*). If we have been struggling with a an apparent 'no' from Jesus we should take heart. Let us look beyond ourselves and whether or not we deserve his help. His help has nothing to do with deserving. We then have the faith to receive what he wants for us in to have peace regarding the things which we want but which he does not give at present. As we experience this love which is absolute and unqualified we are invited to begin to love in the same way.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
No comments:
Post a Comment