Greetings on this the Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Kings 11:4-13; Psalm 106:3-4, 35-36, 37 and 40; Mark 7:24-30
Summary
He said to her, “Let the children be fed first (Mk 7:27).
Reflection
The gospel portion today is generally understood to be the recognition of the prior claim the Jewish people have on the relationship (time, energy, resources) with Jesus and the Gentiles are after and the Greek, a Syrophoenician, request is granted due to her faith. It is an excellent commentary on the progressive elaboration of the mission of Jesus and a recognition of the specific, unique, and long-lived divine-human relationship of the Lord and the people of Israel.
And so it is. Let us go deeper.
Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter (Mk 7:25-26). The woman does not argue for rights; she appeals to mercy.
Personal Reflection
Jesus reveals how the theology unfolds. The first children are not displaced — but the vulnerable are never excluded. In our gospel portion today, Jesus asserts the vulnerable (woman, foreigner, child) as first to receive his blessing that day. It is a great warning to me and to all Christians. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls (Jam 1:21bc).
It is NOT Christian first. It is first Christ and his mission.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021226.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry