Gospel Reflection on Mk 7:24-30

February 13, 2025

Jesus went to the district of Tyre. He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,

but he could not escape notice. Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,

and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, "Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter." When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

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This woman is the true outsider. As a Canaanite, by nature she was an enemy of the Jewish people. She was dead in her sin, alone helpless, unable to help even the child she loves.

Canaanites would never approach an Israelite. Never speak to a man.

But she tramples all these norms because Jesus is all she has left.

Her first approach is rebuffed. She tries to qualify herself as almost Jewish by crying out: Have mercy on me, Lord, son of David.

By ignoring her, Jesus declares his intention to redefine Judaism.

He's about to demonstrate that true Israel stands on faith alone, not unheritage, not unhistory, not unritual, not uncult.

Ethnicity does not defy all a person, nor does it save them.

The gift of faith is the great equalizer. Faith elevates dogs to the status of firstborn sons.

Only in her acceptance of her unworthiness is she able to find a place of acceptance.

Only when she says: yes, Lord, I am all that. A dog I may be, but even the dogs eat the crumbs from the table.

This is the confession of faith which the Gospel produces.

Faith is all that could hold on to Christ when the law reveals the stark ugly truth about us.

Faith seeks what even the dog does not deserve.

Then Jesus speaks, revealing her to be a true daughter of Israel.

She is who Israel is supposed to be. If we were to imagine this scenario, it would be as if we were to present ourselves to God and say: I've just made a good confession. I've received Holy Communion. I've completed a Novena to Mary, and God would have turned us back on us.

In the Eucharist we pray: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. But usually in a secret place in our heart, we believe we really are.

The truth the woman reveals is that: no, we are not, and never can be.

Grace is always and only God's gift.

Find more reflections here:

Weekdays Reflections 2022/25