The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to deepen our faith especially when circumstances and accepted cultural patterns seem to oppose our action.
The reading from the Book of Genesis presents in the Garden of Eden “this one shall be called Woman.”
* [2:18] Helper suited to him: lit., “a helper in accord with him.” “Helper” need not imply subordination, for God is called a helper (Dt 33:7; Ps 46:2). The language suggests a profound affinity between the man and the woman and a relationship that is supportive and nurturing.
* [2:23] The man recognizes an affinity with the woman God has brought him. Unlike the animals who were made from the ground, she is made from his very self. There is a play on the similar-sounding Hebrew words ’ishsha (“woman,” “wife”) and ’ish (“man,” “husband”). (Genesis, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
Psalm 128 praises the Happy Home of the Faithful.
* [Psalm 128] A statement that the ever-reliable God will bless the reverent (Ps 128:1). God’s blessing is concrete: satisfaction and prosperity, a fertile spouse and abundant children (Ps 128:2–4). The perspective is that of the adult male, ordinarily the ruler and representative of the household to the community. The last verses extend the blessing to all the people for generations to come (Ps 128:5–6). (Psalms, PSALM 128, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus responds to the Syrophoenician Woman’s Faith.
* [7:27–28] The figure of a household in which children at table are fed first and then their leftover food is given to the dogs under the table is used effectively to acknowledge the prior claim of the Jews to the ministry of Jesus; however, Jesus accedes to the Gentile woman’s plea for the cure of her afflicted daughter because of her faith. (Mark, CHAPTER 7, n.d.)
George Butterfield comments that our scriptures for today have at least one thing in common: God pours out his blessings on his people.
I love how the writer describes Adam’s delight at seeing Eve. “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” I would paraphrase this as “Yowsa! She’s like me.” …
The psalmist also speaks of being blessed by God. To fear, to reverence, and to walk in his ways brings abundant blessings. Our work is blessed. Our family is blessed…. To her, Jesus’ healing of her daughter was like a scrap falling from the table. A scrap that falls on the floor is no big deal. Jesus, this would be like nothing for you to heal my daughter. That is faith. I quite imagine Jesus smiling as he tells her that the scrap has fallen, and the dog has eaten it – her daughter is healed. (Butterfield, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Great was the power of her faith, and for our learning,” by John Chrysostom (347-407 AD).
"See her humility as well as her faith! For he had called the Jews 'children,' but she was not satisfied with this. She even called them 'masters,' so far was she from grieving at the praises of others. She said, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.' Behold the woman's wisdom! She did not venture so much as to say a word against anyone else. She was not stung to see others praised, nor was she indignant to be reproached. Behold her constancy. When he answered, 'It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs,' she said, 'Yes, Lord.' He called them 'children'- but she called them 'masters.' He used the name of a dog, but she described the action of the dog. Do you see this woman's humility? Then compare her humility with the proud language of the Jews: 'We are Abraham's seed and were never in bondage to any man'(John 8:33). 'We are born of God' (John 8:41). But not so this woman. Rather, she calls herself a dog and them masters. So for this reason she became a child. For what does Christ then say? 'O woman, great is your faith.'
"So we might surmise that this is the reason he put her off, in order that he might proclaim aloud this saying and that he might crown the woman: 'Be it done for you as you desire.' This means 'Your faith, indeed, is able to effect even greater things than these. Nevertheless be it unto you even as you wish.' This voice was at one with the voice that said, 'Let the heaven be,' and it was (Genesis 1:1). 'And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.' Do you see how this woman, too, contributed not a little to the healing of her daughter? For note that Christ did not say, 'Let your little daughter be made whole,' but 'Great is your faith, be it done for you as you desire.' These words were not uttered at random, nor were they flattering words, but great was the power of her faith, and for our learning.
He left the certain test and demonstration, however, to the issue of events. Her daughter accordingly was immediately healed." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW, Homily 52.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 7:24-30 asks us to look at how she responded! She took a risk and refused to take no for an answer. She was demonstrating her faith, as some of the heroes of the Old Testament did.
Maybe, like this Syrophoenician woman or those in the examples above, Jesus is inviting you to step out in faith. Like them, you can learn to approach Jesus respectfully but boldly. Maybe your spouse didn’t get the promotion you felt she deserved, and the injustice of the situation gnaws at your heart. Have the confidence to go before the Lord and tell him, “This just doesn’t make sense!” Maybe plans for a much-needed vacation or reunion fell through; pour out your disappointment to the Lord. When you’ve been praying for a friend with a terminal illness for what seems like forever, take the risk of looking foolish and keep on petitioning the Lord for a healing.
It’s tempting to play it safe and ignore the promptings in your heart to approach the Lord boldly. It might be easier to resign yourself to the status quo and assume that things just aren’t meant to get any better. But at times like those, remember the woman in today’s Gospel. Who knows what Jesus might do when you take a risk, refuse to give up, and keep asking him to hear and answer you?
“Lord, teach me how to pray with fearlessness!” (Meditation on Mark 7:24-30, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on Adam extending his naming of Creation to the woman from his rib, a word in Babylonia that is close to the word for life. (as also in Hebrew and English). In the time of the Yahwist author, 950 BCE, Israel followed matriarchy. Friar Jude ponders Jesus' interaction with the Greek woman as an insult or challenge?
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares how he interprets Scripture by following Jesus’ lead. If we do not have a clear hermeneutic or “lens,” we can make any text submit to the whim of the moment. This is one reason that so much of the world does not take Christians seriously. People have seen us use Scripture whatever way we want to make the points that we already have decided to make!
William of Ockham (c. 1285–c. 1349), a medieval Franciscan scholar, espoused the idea of cutting away all excessive rationalizations and theories. This became known as “Ockham’s razor.” The best answer is probably the simplest one. I know this also has many dangers, but in this case I think we will find that Ockham’s razor might give Christianity a very good shave.
My simple hermeneutic and razor’s cut is this: We should make use of Scripture the way that Jesus did. I call it the Jesus hermeneutic. Historically, Christians have said that the whole Bible was to be interpreted “in the light of Jesus,” but we understood that in a self-serving way, falsely believing that Christianity supplanted Judaism and thus made it irrelevant and merely an “old” testament. We went so far as to assume that Moses and Isaiah were warm-up acts for Jesus. That is not honest, not true, and not even fair to Jesus. He built on their wisdom rather than thinking “They are pointing to me!” We must make that clear mental switch.
Jesus is an ideal model as one who:
Honors his own religious tradition wherever possible and does not react against it needlessly.
Ignores (or even opposes) parts of his own Scriptures that were in any way punitive, imperialistic, exclusionary, or presented God as the same.
Successfully connects the dots, and finds where the trajectory is heading and building toward.
Clearly concludes that the text is tending toward inclusivity, mercy, and justice. These Jesus sees as the clear intent and work of his God YHWH. (Rohr, 2023)
We are blessed with relationships that enrich our lives even when we rely on faith to carry us through times of rejection with patience and humility.
References
Butterfield, G. (n.d.). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/020923.html
Genesis, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/genesis/2?18
Mark, CHAPTER 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/7?24
Meditation on Mark 7:24-30. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/02/09/607100/
Psalms, PSALM 128. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/128?1
Rohr, R. (2023, February 9). How Did Jesus Approach Scripture? — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/how-did-jesus-approach-scripture-2023-02-09/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Demon Has Left Your Daughter. YouTube. Retrieved February 9, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=feb9
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