Mark 7:24-30

“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.’” vs. 27

When Jesus began his ministry by announcing that the kingdom of God had come near, it seems that he was initially thinking that this good news was just for the Jews. Accordingly he spent his time teaching in synagogues and visiting Jewish villages. But occasionally, probably to escape the crowds, he wandered into Gentile areas, and in this instance recounted by Mark, came face to face with a Syro-Phoenician woman. She had heard of him and, because she had a demon-possessed daughter, had sought him out as a last resort. Jesus at first wants nothing to do with her–she was a foreigner, and outside the scope of his mission. But the woman ignores his insulting words and uses them to plead her case. Jesus is impressed, recognizes her faith, and heals her little girl. The story reminds us of our own reluctance to practice inclusion, and encourages us to actively reach out to those who are different from ourselves. The us-them division has wreaked havoc with the mission of the Church, both internally and externally, so it’s no wonder our congregations so often end up consisting of people who look pretty much like ourselves. Diversity is difficult, both for the Church and for the culture, and it’s likely to remain a challenge in our ministry for a long time to come!

Thought for the Day: How can people escape their exclusive tendencies?