Daily Bread

From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, ‘Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go — the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Is it me or is there some banter and sassiness in this exchange between Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman? There's a whole heap of stuff going on here that we need to unpack!

The 'outrageous saying' from Jesus about taking bread from children and giving it to the dogs is a metaphor for giving the blessings destined to the Jewish people to the Gentiles. Now, it would be very out of character, and not a little rude, for Jesus to use a racial slur and compare a person, let along a whole nation with dogs! Was Jesus being rude? Well, let's put it in context, for yes, Jesus' mission was first to the Jewish people and then to the Gentiles, but the plan was always to include the Gentiles. Also, Jesus never refused to heal anyone, and so his statement has to have another purpose.

Jesus was stating a fact that he came to the Jews first, and used this common racial slur in a self-deprecating ironic way, but importantly, I think he said it with a wink and a smile. Why? Because the woman replied with a sharp and witty comeback! I can imagine Jesus laughing, slapping the table, and shouting, "Yes!"

It can be tempting to think of God as an immovable, stoic force that we bash up against, but this story filled with nuance, humour, and banter, is a reminder that we too can be bold and approach, and even challenge God. Our relationship with God is exactly that, a relationship, where there can be push and pull, negotiation, and discussion.

I remember once, facing a life decision, and I asked God what I should do. The answer to my prayer was not a definitive 'yes' or 'no' but a question back at me, "What would you like to do?" God is interested in us, our wants and desires and our hopes and dreams, and our relationship is not a dictatorship but a partnership, and I love that.

Holy God
Thank you that I am your child and
that with boldness I may approach your throne of grace,
not just as my God, but as my loving parent.
Help me partner with you to be a blessing
to others and to the world around me.
This day and forever.