WEDNESDAY

SCRIPTURE: Mark 7:24-30; Matthew 15:21-28

“Hey, hold on there, just a minute! That is not for you!” Have you ever heard someone exclaim that? Have you ever said it yourself? If you grew up with siblings, chances are that you can relate to this on some level. It can be quite annoying when someone is getting into our stuff, particularly without our permission, right?

We appreciate it when people respect our personal, physical, relational, and even emotional boundaries. In a fallen world, however, it is all too easy for those mutually respectful sensibilities to become distorted into a sense of entitlement and privilege that creates unhealthy or even toxic distinctions. When that happens, blessings can be transformed into privileges, and special callings become reasons for exclusion. This was part of the trap that the children of Israel, who were meant to be a blessing to the world around them, fell into. By the time of Jesus, they were more interested in seeing themselves as different from others than they were in being a blessing to them. Today’s Scripture passage reflects the extent to which this had happened and how it impacted the relationship between the Jewish community at the time of Jesus and the people groups that surrounded them. Jesus traveled a considerable geographical distance to get to where this woman was, but it was not only the number of miles that measured the distance that separated her. Perhaps so that his disciples could see the toxicity of that, he first responded as they would have expected, giving her the opportunity to close the perceived gap between them, much to the delight of Jesus.

As you reflect on today’s passage and the way Jesus and the woman interacted with each other, here are some things to think about:

• How did Jesus, by his response to her request, expose the attitude of entitlement that many of the Jews felt toward those who were not a part of the “chosen” people? What “tone” do you think may have characterized the way Jesus said this? Slight playfulness? A hint of sarcasm? Quiet thoughtfulness? Explain why you think so.

• As you listen to the response of the woman, what tone do you think characterized her response? A bit of playfulness as well, perhaps trusting in the willingness of Jesus to heal? Fearfulness that he might not? Humility, in that she was willing to be thought of as they wished if he would only help her daughter? Explain.

• How does the picture of God we have influence the way we hear what Jesus is saying? What are the ways that this happens for you as you reflect on the words of Jesus?

• What is clear in both passages is that Jesus was delighted with her response and that he affirmed her faith. She both pushed through the barriers of prejudice and trusted in him despite it all. In what ways can you relate to the need to press through the perceptions of others, or maybe even your own, and trust in the grace of God anyway?

• It appears that Jesus may have traveled the distance to get there solely for the purpose of meeting this woman, since it appears that he returned the way he came as soon as this happened. What kind of insight does this give you into God’s willingness to seek us out?

• As you reflect on yet another marginalized person that God manages to include in the circle of God’s care, what additional insights do you find in this story?

Take a few moments to share with God in prayer what you are hearing and seeing as you reflect on the passages for today.