Those who trust in the Lord, like a mountain cannot be moved,but stand fast for ever. Psalm 125:1
Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark describes trust in God that is so strong it is unmovable. In these verses
Jesus went 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. A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Jesus and found him. She entered the house where he was staying, bowed down at his feet and begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. Now this woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. Jesus responded to her request, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She answered, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said, “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.
Mark made sure we know this woman was not a Jew. She was a Syrophoenician Gentile. Her ancestors were historic enemies of the Jewish people. In spite of this, the woman was courageous enough to look for Jesus. She was brave enough to enter the house of strangers who, like Jesus, were enemies of her people. Upon entering the house, her commitment was so firmly held, she bowed in the presence of her enemies. She begged Jesus, whose healing power was rumored to be more effective than any doctor. She begged him to restore her child’s health. The Gospels contain plenty of stories about Jesus being with “those people.” Those who were sinners and seekers, tax collectors and thieves, fallen women and foreigners. His willingness to ignore faith tradition and violate religious law do not surprise us, but his reply to this woman is surprising. Dog, Jesus called this woman, her daughter and people dogs. Dogs, Jesus said, should not be fed before children. This insult did not weaken the woman’s resolve. Her bravery, courage and commitment were not undermined by name calling. Like a mountain, she stood firm. With unwaivering commitment, she said, masters let dogs eat food that falls from their children’s plates? Jesus replied, because of your bravery, courage and commitment, your daughter has been made well. In the words of Psalm 125, trust in the Lord, like mount Zion, shall not be moved, but stand fast for ever.
Where does trust like this come from? The Syrophoenician woman was not raised to trust either the people or God of Israel. Her parents, grandparents, and great grandparents probably told stories, issued warnings and used bigoted expressions that would have caused her to mistrust both Jews and Jewish faith tradition and religious law. This woman heard about Jesus’ healing power, but she was smart enough to know that not every bit of gossip turns out to be true. I suspect her trust was generated by necessity. ‘Necessity, is the mother of invention.’ Her commitment, courage and bravery were rooted in her love for her daughter. The demonic possession put her daughter in danger and family at risk. This woman’s love for her child and concerns for her family moved her to seek the God of Israel and trust Jesus.
I have seen trust in God strengthen in this way. Jackie, a church member I served many years ago, became braver, courageous and committed to risk taking because of her love for another. Jackie lived a small house and lived on the social security she had earned from years of work in the garment industry. She never married and had no children, nieces or nephews to help her. Her income was too small to keep up with the maintenance and repairs on her home. Her home had fallen into disrepair by the time I was called to her parish and was becoming unlivable. Jackie attended worship every Sunday, Bible study every Wednesday and volunteered at a local soup kitchen. Both members and I tried to convince Jackie to move out of her home into a senior citizen apartment complex, but Jackie rejected suggestions and refused help. She did until she fell in love. While driving Jackie home from church, she told she missed her dog who died a few years before. She said she would not get another dog because at 80, a dog would live longer than she and end up homeless. I suggested Jackie adopt an older dog. Soon after that conversation, Jackie asked me to drive her to a local animal shelter where she adopted Winston, a 12 year dog. Soon after adopting Winston Jackie put her house on the market and accepted help of members to apply for and move into a senior apartment. Jackie said her home was not fit for Winston; he needed and deserved a safe place to live. Love for that old dog increased Jackie’s trust in God. She allowed her love for Winston to make her brave, give her courage and shift her commitments. Jackie’s love moved her to to sell her house, move to a new neighborhood and establish a new home for herself and Winston at 80.
Who do you love? What would you do for the people or pets you love? The Syrophoenician woman’s love for her daughter and concern for her family made her brave, courageous and committed. She sought help from Jesus, a healer empowered by the God of her enemies. Jackie’s love for Winston increase her long and firmly held faith in Jesus. Her desire to keep Winston safe made her brave enough to leave her home, courageous enough to move to a new neighborhood and committed enough to make her new house a home.
God does not care how we develop our trust in Jesus. Though Jesus was initially perplexed by the Syrophoenician woman, the trust she demonstrated gave clarified things. Her trust gave her access to the restorative power of God. Let your love for your spouse, child, your pet burn brightly so that love grows you trust in the Lord. For trust in the Lord, like Mount Zion, cannot be moved, but stands for ever.
