Bad Jesus, or, Voices on the Edge

This can be listened to here

Gate Pa – Year B 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time,

Readings:

Psalm             Psalm 125     

First Reading:             Prov 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23          

Second Reading:        James 2:1-10, 11-13, 14-17   

Gospel:                                    Mark 7:24-37               

What I want to say:

I want to explore the story of the Syrophonecian woman as a story about Jesus coming face to face with the ramifications of what he had been teaching; that the reign of God plays by nobody’s rules but God’s, not even Jesus’ rules; and then ask who might be acting as the Syrophonecian woman today.

What I want to happen:

People to reflect on who might be acting as the Syrophonecian woman for us today?

The Sermon

       1.      Introduction:

few jobs ago Bonnie and I worked for Methodist church helping parishes think about how they might need to change if they really wanted to be a welcoming place for young people

pretty intense for 2 years

needed recruit some new parishes

asked one minister give brief supporting talk as part of presentation at Synod to invite some new parishes into the process

he was too honest – got no takers.

got to say feels like Mark is being way tooo honest here as well.

sure could made story Syrophonecian a lot more acceptable.

       2.      Bad Jesus

Last week’s story?

Ø  Jesus says “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.”

ð  radical stuff

§  could eat with unclean hands

§  no food is unclean

·         know from Acts and Galatians this on-going source debate

§  more radical – possibility that you could eat with unclean people

§  ? did this include non-Jews – those beyond Jesus group

§  more radical that maybe gentile heart is as acceptable to God as Hebrew heart

-          immediately Jesus has travelled into Gentile area,

-          no mention of disciples – might be on own

-          reading between lines – desperately looking for time away from people and demands they made on him

o   even disciples

here he is in middle gentile area – no Jews

but he is recognised by desperate desperate woman

-          daughter is possessed – involves pretty anti-social behaviour

-          she at least and maybe family ostracised – not welcome in community life

-          desperate for daughter, like any mother

-          desperate life back and place restored

-          comes to beg from this Jewish rabbi

o   she a gentile coming to ask help from one of them

-          she comes unchaperoned it would appear

o   no man speak for her

-          falls at this feet and begs

so many social conventions/traditions of the elders broken

this is very risky behaviour

Jesus responds with "Stand in line and take your turn. The children get fed first. If there's any left over, the dogs get it."

       3.      Ouch

seriously Mark – that is what he says

you are trying to convince us that Jesus is son of God

and this is what he says to this poor woman?

I think you could have done a better job with this

Matthew at least tries to put a positive spin on it.

Some people think Jesus was testing her to see how deep her faith was

others suggest he is engaging in a word game with her

others say here we see human side of Jesus.

Commentaries I read all online – on websites

some authors offered opportunity for people to comment on what they have offered

usually one or two

this reading few more

mostly women

not letting anyone get away with any of that

You don’t respond to desperate people risked a lot by calling them dogs

-          callous

-          rude

-          uncalled for

sad thing is that in all likelihood Mark and Marks listeners would not have been shocked at all by what Jesus said

it was how people treated each other

expected

she clearly an outsider and had no right to be speaking to him

she deserved no less.

makes it no less shocking for us though

it just doesn’t fit with how we think Jesus should act

usually full compassion, generosity, offering hospitality and healing.

Not today.

Here we have Jesus

-          brought up by devout parents in small Jewish community

-          who understands ministry is to his people

-          doesn’t have time for this rude gentile woman interrupting his rest.

       4.      She speaks

what would have shocked people is that she responds

shocking in itself

then what she says

"Of course, Master. But don't dogs under the table get scraps dropped by the children?"

she rocks Jesus world

his eyes are opened, just as the deaf man’s ears are opened next.

sees her

not just gentile dog

but woman who risked much seek his help

her gentile heart is as acceptable to God as Hebrew heart

and he responds

without going near her house

learns that the reign of God plays by nobodies rules but God’s, not even Jesus’ rules

second story he heals another gentile

section ends with feeding of 4,000 – gentiles

pivotal moment in Marks gospel

Jesus’ understanding of reign of God breaking into our world

He thought he had it all sorted radical as his ideas were

she broke it all down and makes him rethink the whole thing.

wow

       5.      Who are Syrophonecian women today?

Helen Clark and feminist group at Auckland University?

Refugees