Dogged Faith

The texts today in from the Roman CatholicLectionary present two encounters of the Chosen people with those outside known as pagans. The Decline of Solomon who Friar Jude Winkler notes had a thousand wives and concubines is linked to the attention he gives to the pagan worship practice in his harem. Some scholars link this loss of practice of Hebrew Law and tradition to the great confusion which lust and self satisfaction can create in even the wisest of minds. The Jewish Encyclopedia article on Solomon is rich with many episodes gathered from rabbinical sources about the truly grandiose life style of this time in the Kingdom of Israel.  Submission to the demonic influences around his throne initiated the decline of Solomon and the separation of the Kingdom of Israel. In the Gospel from Mark, Jesus travels into pagan territory in Tyre. The Christian community to which Mark is writing is dealing with followers who are not from Jewish descent. The attention which cleverness draws is part of this encounter as Jesus declares the Syrophoenician woman to be an intruder into the Promise meant for the people of the Covenant, the Jews by referring to her as a dog. Father Larry Gillick SJ reminds us that the dog was an unclean animal to the Jews and he does not, as some authors, see a difference between the household pet version and the wild dog. The clever response of the woman brings focus on her value and her faith and Jesus confirms her petition for healing of her daughter is granted. Father Larry relates the dynamic interaction of Jesus and this woman to his and possibly our experience of prayerful attention to the unusual, the clever, distinct events in life as opportunities for use to gather some of the crumbs of goodness falling from the tables of people around us.