Who is Worthy?

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 56, 57, [58]; Isa. 51:17-23; Gal. 4:1-11; Mark 7:24-37

A week ago, this past Sunday, in the gospel from Luke the writer describes a time in Jesus’ ministry when he is faced with unbelief, skepticism and even outright anger. The setting is his hometown, where he has returned after having been gone for what the writer alludes to as having been quite a while. He is met with unbelief and as a result he heals very few people. Because you see our faith, invites, and welcomes the healing power of the Holy Spirit.

In today’s gospel reading Jesus is met with the exact opposite. He’s met by a Gentile woman who we wouldn’t expect to be a believer. However, her faith has given her the courage to approach a rabbi, a known healer, whom she’s aware will see her not only as a foreigner but as someone whom the Jews see as dirty, as undeserving of even a kind word. Breaking all cultural norms, she dares speak to him. She is a mother advocating for her child.

You may have surmised by now that I’m a huge fan. I love this woman and I love this gospel reading. Not only because this woman dares do the unthinkable as her only recourse for her child but also because Jesus is not at his best and without saying so he admits it and changes the course of his ministry for the better from this point going forward. She gets right to the heart of the issue by asking Jesus, who is it that is worthy to eat the crumbs left by God’s chosen people?

It seems that this is a question that has never gone away. It may remain unspoken, but it still drifts in and out of our subconscious, in our culture, our daily decisions, our interactions with strangers and with friends. Either consciously or unconsciously we make decisions about others based on whether we deem them as worthy, based on an arbitrary, unspoken set of standards.

What I love so much about this reading is that Jesus in his full humanity, and perfect divinity initially makes a mistake – he rejects this woman and then he thinks better of it, and he changes course. He begins talking to her, listening to her heart-felt pleas and he has compassion on her.  In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth he reminds us we are the only hands and feet, eyes, and ears of Christ here on earth. We’re not perfect, however, as best we can we show up, we offer a hand, we listen, and we pray and then we ask forgiveness for those times we fall short, when we fail to recognize the Christ in those around us: God forgive us for we know not what we do.

Faithfully,

Sally+

Questions for Reflection: Who do we believe are God’s chosen people? How do we justify the inequality that exists in our society concerning medical care, educational opportunities, housing, or employment? How do we begin to include everyone at the Lord’s Table?