The Second Week of September
We Read…
How we treat other people matters to God. We see that the Lord takes up the case of the poor (God is on their side!), the psalmist asks God to do good to those who do good, and James clearly tells us that faith without works (loving your neighbor, caring for those in need) is dead. That’s a pretty strong claim that many people have argued over for the last two thousand years. Wherever you land on that argument, one thing is obvious. God cares about how we treat other people! God loves us, created us, and wants us to treat others as if those two things are true.
Knowing all this, I wonder…what do we do with Jesus’s treatment of the woman in Mark 7? She approaches Jesus at a time when he is all peopled out. And this woman, who is an outsider and not Jewish, interrupts his relaxation time with a need. Jesus gives one of the meanest responses I think I’ve ever heard, essentially calling her a dog. Ouch! Jesus! That’s not very good or loving of him to do. She continues to plead her case, and eventually, Jesus agrees to heal her daughter. Scholars seem to be split on this story - some say that Jesus was repeating a phrase used by others to show how mean it was or to test the woman’s faith; others say that Jesus was just exhausted and tried to set up a boundary for who he came to help first (the Jewish people). Either way, it’s a startling encounter!
This story is a great reminder of what we read in our other passages. God has chosen to love all people, even those society casts out. Jesus sees that the woman’s faith in him is strong and that he heals her daughter, even though the other people around him wouldn’t have considered her to deserve that.
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23
1 A good reputation is better than much wealth; high esteem is better than silver and gold. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord made them both.
8 Those who sow injustice will harvest evil; the rod of their fury will come to an end. 9 Happy are generous people, because they give some of their food to the poor.
22 Don’t steal from the poor, because they are poor. Don’t oppress the needy in the gate. 23 The Lord will take up their case and press the life out of those who oppress them.
Psalm 125
1 The people who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion: never shaken, lasting forever. 2 Mountains surround Jerusalem. That’s how the Lord surrounds his people from now until forever from now! 3 The wicked rod won’t remain in the land given to the righteous so that they don’t use their hands to do anything wrong. 4 Lord, do good to people who are good, to people whose hearts are right. 5 But as for those people who turn to their own twisted ways— may the Lord march them off with other evildoers! Peace be on Israel!
James 2:1-17
1 My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory. 2 Imagine two people coming into your meeting. One has a gold ring and fine clothes, while the other is poor, dressed in filthy rags. 3 Then suppose that you were to take special notice of the one wearing fine clothes, saying, “Here’s an excellent place. Sit here.” But to the poor person you say, “Stand over there”; or, “Here, sit at my feet.” 4 Wouldn’t you have shown favoritism among yourselves and become evil-minded judges? 5 My dear brothers and sisters, listen! Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in terms of faith? Hasn’t God chosen the poor as heirs of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the wealthy make life difficult for you? Aren’t they the ones who drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who insult the good name spoken over you at your baptism? 8 You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself.9 But when you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, and by that same law you are exposed as a lawbreaker. 10 Anyone who tries to keep all of the Law but fails at one point is guilty of failing to keep all of it. 11 The one who said, Don’t commit adultery, also said, Don’t commit murder. So if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are a lawbreaker. 12 In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. 13 There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment. 14 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? 15 Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. 16 What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? 17 In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.
Mark 7:24-37
24 Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had entered a house, but he couldn’t hide. 25 In fact, a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard about him right away. She came and fell at his feet. 26 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.” 28 But she answered, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 “Good answer!” he said. “Go on home. The demon has already left your daughter.” 30 When she returned to her house, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone. 31 After leaving the region of Tyre, Jesus went through Sidon toward the Galilee Sea through the region of the Ten Cities. 32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, and they begged him to place his hand on the man for healing. 33 Jesus took him away from the crowd by himself and put his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking into heaven, Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Open up.” 35 At once, his ears opened, his twisted tongue was released, and he began to speak clearly. 36 Jesus gave the people strict orders not to tell anyone. But the more he tried to silence them, the more eagerly they shared the news. 37 People were overcome with wonder, saying, “He does everything well! He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who can’t speak.”
We Think…
What stands out to you in these verses? Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
Why does James say that faith without works is dead? How do you think the disciples reacted to Jesus’s interactions in Mark 7?
We Feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, maybe a friend or adult that cares for you)?
What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
When have you felt pushed aside by someone or a group of people? When did you feel chosen by someone or a group of people?
We Believe…
An important part of our faith is that it is offered to all people, no matter who they are or what they’ve done. Sometimes, we can feel more deserving of God’s love because we haven’t sinned like that person or walked away like they have. But we believe that God has created all of us, and we are all chosen and loved by God. We don’t get to decide who is in or out because God has said all are welcome. And when people try to set boundaries, God tends to side with the ones on the outside!
We Practice…
Take a piece of paper or write a note on your phone and write down how you are different because of your faith. Maybe this includes actions you do now that you didn’t before, ways that you feel different, words you use, people you hang out with, and really anything else! Reflect on how God has changed you both inside and out. Is there anything you wish was on this list? Is there something God is challenging you to give up or take on in your life? Maybe God is calling you to serve somewhere new, to practice being more patient, or to give up your bad habit. Our faith isn’t built on works, but when we love God wholeheartedly, we want to reflect that in everything we do and say. Share this list with your small group or a mentor, and see if they can add anything else that they have noticed in your life.
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