Showing posts with label Mark 7:24-37. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark 7:24-37. Show all posts
9/07/2021
Opened - Mark 7:24-37 - Pentecost 16 - 9-5-21
9/09/2012
Caught
This week's Bible reflection (Just go away) provided a great beginning to this Sunday's provocative Rally Sunday sermon at St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Downers Grove, IL.
"Caught" text
"Caught" podcast
"Caught" text
"Caught" podcast
9/03/2012
Just go away
Do you ever really need some time away from everyone? Do you ever get weary, short-tempered, and generally crabby?
So did Jesus.
In this week's Bible reading from Mark 7:24-37, Jesus wanted to get away from the crowds. He really needed some "back to Jesus" time. And even though he was looking for private time, a woman found him and asked him to heal her daughter.
Jesus' response to this woman's request was less than kind. It was offensive. Jesus shouldn't have said what he said.
But he did.
He told her that her people weren't as important as the people he was here for. He told her that her people were at best like little puppies and at worst they were simply dogs. He wanted her to just go away.
I think it would have been perfectly reasonable for the woman to respond with the cultural equivalent of a "forget you."
But she didn't.
She addressed Jesus' snark with some of her own. It wasn't offensive, but it did point out how awful what Jesus said was.
Dogs are important too.
Jesus should have apologized. He may have, though the Bible doesn't record it. Jesus did do an about face, however. He told the woman that because of what she said, he would heal her daughter.
And I am sure Jesus learned a lesson.
So did Jesus.
In this week's Bible reading from Mark 7:24-37, Jesus wanted to get away from the crowds. He really needed some "back to Jesus" time. And even though he was looking for private time, a woman found him and asked him to heal her daughter.
Jesus' response to this woman's request was less than kind. It was offensive. Jesus shouldn't have said what he said.
But he did.
He told her that her people weren't as important as the people he was here for. He told her that her people were at best like little puppies and at worst they were simply dogs. He wanted her to just go away.
I think it would have been perfectly reasonable for the woman to respond with the cultural equivalent of a "forget you."
But she didn't.
She addressed Jesus' snark with some of her own. It wasn't offensive, but it did point out how awful what Jesus said was.
Dogs are important too.
Jesus should have apologized. He may have, though the Bible doesn't record it. Jesus did do an about face, however. He told the woman that because of what she said, he would heal her daughter.
And I am sure Jesus learned a lesson.
9/05/2009
Ephphatha
This week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc (Woof) provides a bit of the beginning and a little bit of background, but is only an introduction to Sunday's sermon at Union Congregational UCC in Somonauk, IL
"Ephphatha" text
"Ephphatha" podcast
"Ephphatha" text
"Ephphatha" podcast
8/31/2009
Woof
Here's this week's Bible study blog entry for i.ucc.org:
“Posted by ProudDog . . .”
On i.ucc, aol, gmail and probably a few other places my name is ProudDog. Why? Really – wouldn’t kirkmoore be something much more understandable? Where does this prouddog come from?
About 16 years ago, when I thought it would be cool to have a 'CB-like" online handle, I created "proud dog" as a result of my reaction to this week’s Bible reading from Mark 7:24-24. Over the years the name and its significance has evolved but the name is still the same. Verse 28 refers to the good fortune a dog under the table has to catch the children's crumbs.
In the first part of this week's Bible reading I see a tired and crabby Jesus. He was trying to get away from everyone by hiding in a house. A persistent woman with a sick daughter found him and asked that her daughter be healed.
Jesus' response was less than kind. The snotty remark about feeding the children (the Hebrew people) before the dogs (the Gentiles -- the woman who found Jesus was Syrophoenician -- a Gentile) wasn't at all nice to say. The comment was snarky, rude and offensive. But the woman gave it right back to Jesus: "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
I love Jesus' response: "For saying that, you may go. The demon has left your daughter." It's as if he was saying, "OK -- you got me -- I'm feeling a little crabby and you're right -- I'm here for everyone -- thank you for reminding me."
Jesus -- who was fully capable of performing wonderful miracles, also was fully human. He understood mood swings, exhaustion, snarky comments and even learning something from another person.
This Bible passage and my experience with it paints a picture of Jesus that is real -- genuine and authentic. It paints a picture of someone I want to know better.
And I'm so proud (in a beaming and bubbling about what Jesus has done for me way) to be part of the "everybody" (and I mean everybody -- not just certain somebodies) that feels often like a child -- and often like a dog under the table.
Woof.
“Posted by ProudDog . . .”
On i.ucc, aol, gmail and probably a few other places my name is ProudDog. Why? Really – wouldn’t kirkmoore be something much more understandable? Where does this prouddog come from?
About 16 years ago, when I thought it would be cool to have a 'CB-like" online handle, I created "proud dog" as a result of my reaction to this week’s Bible reading from Mark 7:24-24. Over the years the name and its significance has evolved but the name is still the same. Verse 28 refers to the good fortune a dog under the table has to catch the children's crumbs.
In the first part of this week's Bible reading I see a tired and crabby Jesus. He was trying to get away from everyone by hiding in a house. A persistent woman with a sick daughter found him and asked that her daughter be healed.
Jesus' response was less than kind. The snotty remark about feeding the children (the Hebrew people) before the dogs (the Gentiles -- the woman who found Jesus was Syrophoenician -- a Gentile) wasn't at all nice to say. The comment was snarky, rude and offensive. But the woman gave it right back to Jesus: "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
I love Jesus' response: "For saying that, you may go. The demon has left your daughter." It's as if he was saying, "OK -- you got me -- I'm feeling a little crabby and you're right -- I'm here for everyone -- thank you for reminding me."
Jesus -- who was fully capable of performing wonderful miracles, also was fully human. He understood mood swings, exhaustion, snarky comments and even learning something from another person.
This Bible passage and my experience with it paints a picture of Jesus that is real -- genuine and authentic. It paints a picture of someone I want to know better.
And I'm so proud (in a beaming and bubbling about what Jesus has done for me way) to be part of the "everybody" (and I mean everybody -- not just certain somebodies) that feels often like a child -- and often like a dog under the table.
Woof.
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