New Testament Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 18: Year B
“Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.” (Mark 7: 26)
Although there was some back-and-forth between them, Jesus works out of the woman’s faith, her belief that through Jesus anything, and all things, are possible. The writer of this experience, as well as the words of our Lord Jesus, go well beyond what is necessary to make sure we understand that this woman is not an Israelite. This is done by stating that she was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin.
In the same Gospel passage for today we read of Jesus healing a deaf man in the Decapolis, the Gentile area across the Jordan. This healing of another person, other than Israelite, is identified by geographic location rather than race or ethnicity but still points to ethnicity. In any case it shows our Lord Jesus to be the helper of people outside of the so-called God’s chosen. All of humanity is God’s chosen no matter where on this blue ball we live.
As far as Jesus is concerned, it matters not what (so called) race you are labeled, or nationality you claim, or language you speak, or sexual orientation you are made to be. God in Christ Jesus loves all humanity and will heal us by the prayerful tears of our selves, or the prayerful tears of those who love us. Why? Because God’s ears hears tears. Nothing, no problem, is too big for God if we go to God in serious prayer.
As Episcopalians we are blessed with the wonderful 1979 Book of Common Prayer (BCP). And, while we try to attend Church every Sunday, our BCP provides for daily prayers that will keep us close to our Lord Jesus in very meaningful ways. But, we have to open the BCP and use it. We have Daily Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayers, Early Evening Prayers, Evening Prayers and Compline. We know of traditions that pray 5 times a day and some of us hold them in judgment. Our BCP asks us also to pray 5 times a day. I don’t think it’s too much to ask. Perhaps we hold ourselves in judgment as well. Using our prayer books in this way is a private, personal practice. My own habit of the daily office is expressed in this daily blog. The BCP also has shorter versions of daily prayer called “Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families,” that begin on page 136. One does not have to be an Episcopalian to use this wonderful source of prayer. I am aware of many other Christian walks who make use of this magnificent prayer guide. We all need to be more about prayer. God is listening.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 