Text Mark 6:31-34 & Mark 7:24-30

• I love my dog.
  • under covers
  • kiss his head

• Dogs were not pets
  • “Dogs, a highly insulting name, dogs were regarded as shameless and unclean” (Jewish Annotated NT)
  • rats?

• Region of Tyre
  • Gentile area bordering Judea
  • “potentially hostile”

Nevertheless, he persisted.

• Meets Syrophoenician woman
  • Gentile?
  • approaching a man?
  • her daughter is sick

Nevertheless, she persisted.

The woman was Greek, Syrophoenician by birth. She begged Jesus to throw the demon out of her daughter.  27  He responded, “The children have to be fed first. It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Mark 7:26-27 CEB

• Jesus says heal the Jews.
  • says in derogatory way

• Possible interpretations of Jesus’ actions
  • ignore context and think of our own pets
  • misogynist
  • xenophobe “Make Judea Great Again”
  • testing her
    • hostile?
    • worthy?

• seizing a teachable moment
  • use of “dogs” plays into Jews’ biases
  • good news is for all

He responded, “The children have to be fed first. It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Mark 7:27 CEB

We need to take care of Americans first. It isn’t right to take the bread and toss it to the refugees and immigrants.

• Jesus has laid his trap.
  • On to him,
    • Nevertheless, she persisted.

“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Mark 7:28 CEB

• Story has turned

• Jesus reveals his point
  • Jesus heals her daughter
    • when she persists
    • tho she’s not Jewish
    • tho she’s a she
  • The kingdom of God is for everyone

and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31  The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 CEB

***

• Condon UCC criticized
  • too inclusive
    • LGBT
    • women
    • black lives
    • immigrants
  • too loving
  • not Christian

Nevertheless, you persisted.

• Your faith is palpable
  • resist an inward focus
    • But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness… Matthew 6:33 NRSV
  • be active in your faith
    • My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? 
    • Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? James 2:14 CEB

• You have big decisions & challenges
  • Nevertheless, you will persist.

I leave you with the words of the apostle Paul writing to the Philippian church,

I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now.  I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6 CEB

Amen.

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This was my final sermon at the Condon United Church of Christ, delivered Sunday, Feb. 19, 2017.