Thought for the Day – Tuesday 7th July
‘Jesus left that place and went
away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from
that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of
David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at
all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she
keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep
of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord,
help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and
throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes,
Lord, yet even the dogs eat the
crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her,
“Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her
daughter was healed instantly.’ (Matthew 15: 21-28)
Here is the child of the story reflecting on this happening:
Something happened to me when I
was little. My mum told me that a man called Jesus healed me.
No one knew what was wrong with
me. She had been desperate and when my mum is desperate she refuses to take no
for an answer. She had heard that a healer called Jesus was in the district and
that he was good, that he knew his stuff. She had left me with a neighbour and
gone out to find him. I heard later that she had given his disciples a hard
time until she got to see him face to face; and when she saw him, they argued -
that is something my mum is good at - lots of eye contact and passion. They
both gave as good as they got. Mum said Jesus really enjoyed it. It was the
kind of conversation he rarely got to have - most of his followers would not
have dared!
Mum said that he told her that he
had only been sent to people of Israel, and she was having none of that. If he
was only supposed to heal the people of Israel, what was he doing in Tyre and
Sidon? Then he told her he could not take food meant for the children of Israel
and give it to dogs. Dogs! He called my mum a dog! Mum went for him, she told
him that even dogs get a share of what is left over after dinner. That stopped
him and made him think. She said he looked down at the floor for a minute and
then he looked her in the face and answered her, he said that their argument
had made him change his mind, he knew that she trusted him, he would do what
she wanted, and when she got home she found me healed. Feisty - that’s what
they call my mum. And to argue with her Jesus must have been a brave man, a
brave man and an honest one.
Ever changed your mind?
Was it easy to do so or did it feel like you were giving in to someone
or agreeing to something you did not truly believe in?
Well you are not alone for here we see Jesus changing his mind!
This is often a difficult passage for us as we see a Jesus who firstly
ignores the woman – perhaps being a little racist because she is Canaanite, who
is urged by his disciples to send her away displaying exclusion rather than
inclusion as he regularly does and seeming to agree with their appeal, who then
deigns to speak to the woman but only to tell her he was not sent to her
people only to ‘the lost sheep of the
house of Israel’ but who then changes his mind due to the great persistence
of this gentile woman and the faith she displays.
This is a real turning point for the kingdom of God – in changing his
mind here Jesus now shows to us a deeper love – a love which is for all people
and the love which was once thought only to be for the ‘house of Israel’ now stretches beyond rules, beyond prejudices,
beyond limited religion. In fact, it is a love which breaks rules and crosses
borders, a love which is all-inclusive. This is the kind of bigger love which
we too are called to share, we are called to be inclusive, called to cross
boundaries, called to reach out to all in love and at times called to change
our resolute minds that others might come to see the true kingdom of God and in
so doing wish to share and be part of that kingdom here on earth.
Prayer
Loving Lord,
In changing your mind on this day you showed us that with open arms you
welcome all who call on your name, all who acknowledge you as Lord, and all who
look to you in faith. You showed us that all are welcome within your circle of
love and mercy and grace. Lord, as we think on you changing your mind this day,
open our minds to change, open our arms to welcome all and our hearts to be as
loving, merciful and gracious as you; give us an awareness of that bigger love
you showed to the woman that day and help us to display such love in our lives
with all those we meet in this time. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen
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