Daily Retreat 02/08/07
2007 Feb 8 Thu/ Jerome Emiliani, p, rf/ Josephine Bakhita, v
Gn 2: 18-25/ Ps 127(128): 1-2. 3. 4-5/ Mk 7: 24-30
From today’s readings: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.... Blessed are those who fear the Lord.... Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”
Children and Creatures of God
At the time of Jesus, the Jews were the only people who believed in the one true God - everyone else was pagan, including the Syrophoenician woman who begged Jesus to help her daughter. Jesus’ initial reply to her comes across as insulting, even though it’s an appropriate reminder of the essential distinction between God’s own people, who, by His grace, have been elevated to the status of His beloved children, contrasted with those people who reject God, but still nonetheless remain His dependent creatures.
The Syrophoenician woman was satisfied with the children’s scraps, and Jesus did not refuse her that much. The Gospel doesn’t mention any more about the woman, but perhaps later in her life she realized that Jesus was ready and eager to give her much more, as soon as she would respond to God’s call to be more than just His creature - to be His beloved child, through the sacramental adoption of baptism!
In addition to the clear distinction between children of God and creatures of God, there’s a parallel continuum that we can consider about the whole range of responses of faith. For even among God’s baptized children, too many are satisfied with just the crumbs of faith, because they prefer to follow animal instincts and habits rather than live up to their sublime dignity as children of God. Jesus is always ready and eager to give us much more, as long as we children of God just live up to our role!
Gn 2: 18-25/ Ps 127(128): 1-2. 3. 4-5/ Mk 7: 24-30
From today’s readings: “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh.... Blessed are those who fear the Lord.... Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”
Children and Creatures of God
At the time of Jesus, the Jews were the only people who believed in the one true God - everyone else was pagan, including the Syrophoenician woman who begged Jesus to help her daughter. Jesus’ initial reply to her comes across as insulting, even though it’s an appropriate reminder of the essential distinction between God’s own people, who, by His grace, have been elevated to the status of His beloved children, contrasted with those people who reject God, but still nonetheless remain His dependent creatures.
The Syrophoenician woman was satisfied with the children’s scraps, and Jesus did not refuse her that much. The Gospel doesn’t mention any more about the woman, but perhaps later in her life she realized that Jesus was ready and eager to give her much more, as soon as she would respond to God’s call to be more than just His creature - to be His beloved child, through the sacramental adoption of baptism!
In addition to the clear distinction between children of God and creatures of God, there’s a parallel continuum that we can consider about the whole range of responses of faith. For even among God’s baptized children, too many are satisfied with just the crumbs of faith, because they prefer to follow animal instincts and habits rather than live up to their sublime dignity as children of God. Jesus is always ready and eager to give us much more, as long as we children of God just live up to our role!
posted by FrPitstick | 2/02/2007
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