NOTES for Mar 7:24-30

Christ’s words to the Syrophoenician woman sound very troubling: “...it is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” It seems as though He supports xenophobia and looking down on those of other faiths as second-class people. Yet let us put ourselves in this woman’s place. Suppose, for example, that we ask Christ for some mercy and He answers us: “I have no time; I am busy distributing deserved mercies to God’s rightful children, while you are a dog and are not entitled to eat from the master’s table.” Most likely we would be indignant and reply that “these children of Yours are no better than I am, and as for my being a dog, name-calling is uncivil.” Yet with astonishing humility this woman agrees and says: “You may think of me whatever You consider right; I really am a sinner, but could I not also receive a few crumbs of Your mercy?” Crumbs, because from her point of view the healing of her daughter is such a small thing for the Almighty that it could hardly impoverish the children who are showered with the Creator’s endless mercies. Her humility before Christ does not remain unanswered. There is one more important point: Christ does not refuse to help her, a pagan, but for this to become possible she must agree that the truth lies in faith in the One God. The monotheistic Jews accept this truth, while the pagans do not. For if the Syrophoenician woman does not agree that this is indeed so, then who is Jesus to her?