So, this foreign woman sneaks into the crowd following Jesus. Doesn't know her proper place just yet and pushes her way right up to The Carpenter. Might be she needs a tad more humility and respect for the Real Jews of her day. Seems like her "people" lost their way years ago and strayed away from the ultra-straight and ultra-narrow way of the True Children of Abraham. Psshaww! I'll guaran-dad-gum-tee you she didn't have a photo ID or even a copy of her true genealogy. And yet… here she is right in the middle of this big healing parade just like somebody invited her.
So, anyway, for no other reason than just being all full of herself, I guess, she comes sashaying right up to the Lord. Not only is she full of sass and cheek pushing her way ahead of all them Real Jews, she has the audacity to just flat out ask Jesus for a favor!
Now, if it was some kind of long-term terminal illness or some personal malady like the heartbreak of psoriasis or something like that, I could maybe understand a little bit. But, no, she ain't even sick! She claims—but of course, we know it ain't even possible—that her little daughter is back at home completely bowled over by—get this, folks—a demon! Everyone knows demons—if there is such a thing—don't bother decent people; it's just them half-breeds and heathen and pagans and such. Serves 'em all right, I reckon.
And here she is, acting just like she's as Jewish as anybody, and asks the Lord to heal her daughter, who she didn't even have the gumption to bring with her. Like, you're really all this concerned, and you just left her at home with the demon? Oh, fer crying out loud!
And Jesus, bless his heart, he knows the score here. Takes a look at the woman, knows she ain't a True Jew, and lays some heavy truth on her right off the bat. (I love it when someone has the moxie to tell it like it is and not layer it all up in syrup and chocolate.)
"Nope," he says, "Ain't gonna happen. Tain't right to take the food meant for the real children of Abraham and throw it to the dogs."
Wowie zowie, shake a great big hickory tree, and shoot every squirrel that falls out!! He really showed her the way to the door in a hurry. Sure cracked up all them souped up Children of Abraham gathered around. They wuz all laughing like they'd just seen their least favorite neighbor fall off the back porch into a whole patch of briars while they's wearing nothing but their undies.
What they didn't see coming was her response.
"That is true, Lord," she admitted, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table."
Lord Almighty, that sure silenced the yucks and the yammers. Got quieter than a stingy church during special offering.
I reckon the Lord Himself was as impressed as anyone.
He smiled, nodded his head a time or two, and then told her, "That was a right good answer right there, yes, ma'am. Right good." Then he paused for just a jiff, and said, "Tell you what. That answer was so good, I'm gonna give you exactly what you asked for. You go on home now. Your daughter is just fine."
And sure nuff, she was!
I reckon when you've got as much power and love and grace as Jesus, there's more than enough to go around. Why, far as I can tell, there's enough for all the good folk and for the rest of the world, too. I guess we can trust him to figure out who gets it and who don't. No reason for us to bother with that…
As for me, well, load me up with sodium pentothal and a tall glass of sweet iced tea and I'd probably admit that down deep I guess I'm kind of grateful that deserve ain't got nothing to do with it.
*Mark 7:24-30
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