Holy and Righteous Forebears of God Joachim and Anna
Holy Martyr Severian (321-23)
Post-feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God
Ephesians 1:1-19; Mark 7:24-30
Read Mark 7:24-30
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today’s Gospel lesson is quite unique in the sense that Jesus breaks societal norms as Jews are not supposed to have dealings with the Gentiles and especially not Gentile women. The cities of Tyre and Sidon were located in Phoenicia, north of Galilee, outside of Jewish territory. In his love for all humankind, Jesus seeks out the lost sheep which resides beyond the boarders of those who are part of the family of God.
Not only is this a personal encounter between Jesus and the Greek woman, it is also an image pointing to the movement of the Gospel to the Gentiles. The woman’s daughter represents the offspring of those who do not know the true God. Her offspring are afflicted by the demons as this is the consequence of idolatry. She has become a slave to evil and sin. Orthodoxia (Greek for correct or right worship) unites us to the true God and brings us freedom and transforms us into children of God; whereas, idolatry is so demeaning that it strips us of our dignity and makes us subhuman: into dogs—for the Jews dogs were not man’s best friend, but scavengers and pests of the worst kind.
By bowing down at the feet of Jesus—that is directing her worship towards the One True God—the woman was able to get Jesus’ attention. It was her faith and humility that welcomed Jesus into her life, but also brought his grace and power into the life of her offspring. The result of correct worship is union with the Holy Trinity, freedom from the oppression of darkness and transformation of our identity into something greater than we deserve or can imagine as we become children of God.