Impartiality
26 Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 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." 28 But she answered him, "Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." 29 Then he said to her, "For saying that, you may go--the demon has left your daughter." 30 So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. (Mark 7:26-30)
The passage above, from Mark 7, is considered a troubling passage because it seems out of character for Jesus. We are missing important details like tone of voice and facial expression that could help us better understand how Jesus, otherwise presented as kind and merciful to women and gentiles, could refer to this gentile woman as a dog. But the information we are given may provide the understanding we seek. Beginning in the previous chapter, Jesus has traveled to a region populated by gentiles, and has fed, taught and healed many. Then, earlier in this chapter, Jesus is confronted by some church leaders who challenge him on obedience to tradition versus obedience to the heart of God's law. So, it's possible, that when the Syrophoenician woman approached Jesus he responded by mocking the way the Pharisees would have responded. And then Jesus healed her daughter.
Jesus spent his entire ministry expanding the understanding of the reach of God's compassion, grace, and mercy. The Israelites had been chosen to receive God's blessings for the purpose of being emissaries of blessing to the world. As those who have been grafted into the family of faith, we to often forget that Jesus' inclusiveness extends beyond ourselves. Because we rarely think of ourselves as rich, we fail to notice the distinctions of class we participate in proliferating. But if we have a consistent and stable place to live, a mode of transportation available, food when we want it (especially the specific food we desire), the expectation of safety, we are quite rich indeed. There is no sin in having what we need, or even what we want. The sin comes when we create hierarchies of worth. We have innate capabilities to compare, critique, and rank, but we can choose how we use these abilities. We can and we must choose to look for and value the image of God in each person. According to the law, none are worthy to sit at the table, but by grace we are heirs with Christ.
This Good News is for all!
2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:2-5, 12-13)
