The Pagans

 "When JESUS left that place, HE went to the border of the Tyrian country.  There, HE entered a house, and do not want anyone to know HE was there; but HE could not remain hidden.  A woman, whose small daughter had an evil spirit, heard of HIM, and came and fell at HIS feet.  Now this woman was a pagan, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged HIM to drive the demon out of her daughter.

JESUS told her, 'Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the puppies.'  But she replied, 'Sir, even the puppies under the table eat the crumbs from the children's bread.'  Then JESUS said to her, 'You may go your way; because of such a response, the demon has gone out of your daughter.'  And when the woman went home, she found her child lying in bed, and the demon gone." - Mark 7:24-30 

(The authorities come into conflict with JESUS.  HE must depart and wander along the border of Galilee, where HE is less watched and can easily flee.  This incident occurs near Tyre, a province occupied by the Syrians and Phoenicians.

The Jews were never able to understand their election by GOD as HIS chosen people without looking down on other nations.  Being bearers of the true faith obliged them to avoid contamination with other religions, but actually this increased their inability to understand all that was foreign.

For them the world was divided in two: there were "the people" [Jewish] and "the nations": all the others.  Apparently GOD ignored these others, unless it was to let them feel the weight of HIS justice.  Their minds were totally closed to the question we ask ourselves today: how does GOD deal with and save all those who have not heard HIS word?  So it was that the Phoenicians, [also called Greeks because they spoke Greek rather than Hebrew] lived near but were very distant from the Jews.

Although JESUS came to save all, HIS FATHER desired that HE not go beyond HIS own country.  Nevertheless, on certain occasions HE encountered pagans, and more than once admired their simplicity and faith.

The Gospel has not kept all that JESUS said and did, but we see nothing there that could be a call to "change one's religion" nor a threat for those who take a road other than that of Christianity.  JESUS leaves them on the path along which the FATHER leads them and invites them to thank the one and only GOD and shows them how near the FATHER is to them through HIS Son.

The Jews usually looked down on pagans with marked contempt: they were the sons, the pagans were the dogs.  JESUS answered the afflicted woman repeating this well-known scornful saying.  HE said this to test the woman's faith: would she insist when it appeared that even GOD would reject her?)

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Clean And Unclean

 "JESUS then called the people to HIM again and said to them, 'Listen to ME , all of you, and try to understand.  Nothing that enters a person from the outside can make that person unclean.  It is what comes from within that makes a person unclean.  Let everyone who has ears listen.'

When JESUS got home and was away from the crowd, HIS disciples asked HIM about this saying, and HE replied, 'So even you are dull?  Do you not see that whatever comes from outside cannot make a person unclean, since it enters not the heart but the stomach, and is finally passed out?'

Thus JESUS declared that all foods are clean.

And HE went on, 'What comes out of a person is what defiles him, for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly.  All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean.'" - Mark 7:14-23 

(An important practice of Judaism was to keep oneself clean: one could not participate in worship without being in a state of ritual purity.  This word "purity" did not have the same meaning we give it today.  The clean person was one who was not contaminated even inadvertently by things prohibited by law.  For example, pork and rabbit were considered unclean; they could not be eaten.  A menstruating woman or a person with hemorrhoids were considered unclean for a certain number of days: no one could even touch them.  A leper was considered unclean until cured.  If a bug fell in oil, the oil was considered unclean, and would have to be thrown away.

If contaminated even by no fault of his own, the person had to purify himself, usually with water, sometimes paying for sacrifices.

At one time, these laws were useful in encouraging a hygienic life-style.  They also protected the faith of the Jews who lived among people who did not know GOD.  How could they guard their faith in the one GOD if they were to live with other nations, befriend them, and even imitate their ways?  With so many religious practices to observe, the Jews had to live apart from those who did not share their faith and life-style.

JESUS removes off from these rites their sacred value: nothing is unclean in all GOD's creation; touching the sick, a corpse or a bloodstained object does not offend GOD.  GOD is not bothered if we eat this or that.  Sin is always something that comes from the heart and not something we do unintentionally.

It is true that Scripture teaches these concepts of purity and impurity, but these laws were written many centuries ago and not everything Scripture says is valid for all times.  Through the teachings of the Scriptures GOD educated HIS nation, but the laws HE gave them from the beginning, when they were barbaric and uneducated, are no longer necessary for a community which has a solid religious foundation.

It is quite legitimate for Christians to adopt a vegetarian way of life, that Christian communities consider abstinence from alcohol and tobacco as a witness to help addicts.  But let us not say that this is part of our faith nor let us judge those who do not agree with us.  That would otherwise undermine the transcendence of Christian salvation that goes beyond any question of "eating and drinking" [Romans14:17].)

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A Lyrical Reflection On The Making And Endowment Of Man

 "When I observe the heavens,

the work of YOUR hands,

the moon, and the stars YOU set in their place--

what is man, that YOU be mindful of him;

the son of man, that YOU should care for him?

Yet YOU made him a little less than a god;

you crowned him with glory and honor

and gave him the works of YOUR hands;

YOU have put all things under his feet--

sheep and oxen without number, 

and even the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air, the fish of the sea,

and all that swim the paths of the ocean."

- Psalm 8:4-9

(This psalm is lyrical reflection on the making and endowment of man: 'Let us make man in our own image... let him have dominion over the fish, the birds, the beasts' [Genesis 1:26].  He is little less than a god because he has a share in GOD's dominion.  He is much greater than the stars because, child though he is before the Eternal GOD, he has a voice for praise.  This psalm can be sung as a celebration of human dignity and divine greatness.)

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GOD's Boundless Care For HIS Creation

 "Praise YAHWEH, my soul!

Clothed in majesty and splendor;

O YAHWEH, my GOD, how great YOU are!

YOU are wrapped in light as with a garment;

YOU stretch out the heavens like a tent,...

YOU set the earth on its foundations,

and never will it be shaken.

YOU covered it with the ocean like a garment,

and waters spread over the mountains.

YOU make springs gush forth in valleys,

winding among mountains and hills,...

Birds build their nests close by,

and sing among the branches of trees.

How varied O YAHWEH, are YOUR works!

In wisdom YOU have made them all--

the earth, full of YOUR creatures.

May sinners vanish from the earth,

and may the wicked be no more.

Praise YAHWEH, my soul!"

- Psalm 104:1-2. 5-6. 10. 12. 24. 35

(Religion is not strictly an affair between GOD and our souls.  We are part of the world which GOD also made and loves.  The creation was described in the first chapter of Genesis in brief phrases.  Here, the same account is painted in loving detail.  The psalmist speaks of the world, as he saw it; we can think also of the world as we know it--a much more complex world than the psalmist knew--but with the same delight and awe.)

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Job Addresses An Absent GOD

 "Man's life on earth is a thankless job,

his days are those of a mercenary.

Like a slave he longs for the shade of evening,

like a hireling waiting for his wages.

Thus I am allotted months of boredom and nights of grief and misery.

In bed I say, 'When shall the day break?'

On rising, I think, 'When shall evening come?'

and I toss restless till dawn.

My days pass swifter than a weaver's shuttle,

heading without hope to their end.

My life is like wind, you well know it,

O GOD; never will I see happiness again."

- Job 7:1-4. 6-7

(Job addresses an absent GOD.  Job does not know GOD-FATHER and the trial brings out in him suspicions against a jealous GOD who watches people in order to punish them.

Yet Job's complaint against GOD reminds us of the friction between people who love each other, and precisely because they love each other they are more demanding.)

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They Were Like Sheep Without A Shepherd

 "The apostles returned and reported to JESUS all they had done and taught.  Then HE said to them, 'Let us go off by ourselves into a remote place and have some rest.  For there were so many people coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat.  And they were away in the boat to a secluded area by themselves.

But people saw them leaving, and many could guess where they were going.  So, from all the towns, they hurried there on foot, arriving ahead of them.

As JESUS went ashore, HE saw a large crowd, and HE had compassion on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.  And HE began to teach them many things." - Mark 6:30-34 

(This compassion of JESUS helps us understand that Christian commitment to the poor is not complete as long as the Church is not itself deeply rooted in the lower class of society.

They were like sheep without a shepherd.  [Numbers 27:17; Isaiah 40:11;  Ezekiel 34; Zechariah 11:4-17; 12:8].  This refers to people who had not yet found true community, and JESUS had pity on them.  The prophet Ezekiel reproached the leaders of Israel for being bad pastors, but today he might reproach us for failing to be pastors and prophets in the midst of our world.  Why should we so often wait for priests, religious or a few handpicked lay people to take the initiative of assembling new communities?  Why are we so timid in proposing to "those who are outside" the light of faith that we have gratuitously received and allow them to discover in the group or community this richness?)

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Faith Is Great, But It Is Lived In The Little Things Of Daily Life

 "Let mutual love continue.  Do not neglect to offer hospitality; you know, that some people have entertained angels without knowing it.  Remember prisoners, as if you were with them in chains, and the same for those who are suffering.  Remember, that you also have a body.

Marriage must be respected by all, and husband and wife, faithful to each other.  GOD will punish the immoral and the adulterous.

Do not depend on money.  Be content with having enough for today, for GOD has said: I will never forsake you or abandon you, and we shall confidently answer: The LORD is my helper, I will not fear; what can man do to me?  Remember your leaders, who taught you the word of GOD.  Consider their end, and imitate their faith.  CHRIST JESUS is the same today, as yesterday, and forever." - Hebrews 13:1-8 

(Faith is great, but it is lived in the little things of daily life.  The persecuted people to whom this letter is addressed need not undertake new tasks.  They will manifest their faith through an upright and generous life.  They will also have to accept their situation of being marginalized, sharing the shame of CHRIST.)

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You Came Near To Mount Zion, To The City Of The Living GOD

 "What you have come to, is nothing known to the senses: nor heat of a blazing fire, darkness and gloom and storms, blasts of trumpets or such a voice that the people pleaded, that no further word be spoken.... The sight was so terrifying, that Moses said: I tremble with fear.

But you, came near to Mount Zion, to the City of the living GOD, to the heavenly Jerusalem, with its innumerable angels.  You have come to the solemn feast, the assembly of the firstborn of GOD, whose names are written in heaven.  There is GOD, Judge of all, with the spirits of the upright, brought to perfection.  There is JESUS, the mediator of the new Covenant, with the sprinkled blood that cries out more effectively than Abel's." - Hebrews 12:18-19. 21-24 

(You came near to Mount Zion.  This mountain on which Jerusalem was built was for the Jews the image of the heavenly city.  At the time of their baptism the believers experienced to different degrees a transformation giving them a joyful awareness of belonging to GOD.  They experienced it in a community context where they became aware of what the holy Church is.  They became one in the family of GOD, of saints and angels.  Perhaps they came to know something of this mysterious center where the destiny of the world is decided and where JESUS HIMSELF is present.  They must not forget later the experiences given them in enlightened times.)

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Praise Of GOD's Love

 "Praise YAHWEH, my soul; all my being, praise HIS holy name!

Praise YAHWEH, my soul, and do not forget all HIS kindness;...

As a father has compassion on his children, so YAHWEH pities those who fear HIM.

For HE knows how we are formed, HE remembers that we are dust.

But YAHWEH's kindness is forever with those who fear HIM; so is HIS justice, for their children's children, for those who keep HIS Covenant and remember HIS commands; for those who put them into practice.

- Psalm 103:1-2. 13-14. 17-18

(The Christian lives joyfully in the paradox that our GOD is higher than the heavens, and yet, is close to us in love and mercy.  Our gratitude for HIS mercy merges naturally into a hymn of praise, for HIS greatness.  When we think how great HE is, it is not to think how far away HE is, but how much HE loves us to come down to us.

Let us praise the LORD, together with everything created: in moments of joy, as well as in hours of sadness, both when we have strength or when we live in fragility.)

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I Send MY Messenger To Prepare The Way

 "Now I AM sending MY messenger ahead of ME, to clear the way; then, suddenly, the LORD, for whom you long, will enter the Sanctuary.  The envoy of the Covenant which you so greatly desire, already comes, says YAHWEH of hosts.  Who can bear the day of HIS coming and remain standing when HE appears?  For HE will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for bleaching.

HE will be as a refiner or a fuller.  HE will purify the sons of Levi and refine them, like gold and silver.  So YAHWEH will have priests who will present the offering as it should be.  Then YAHWEH will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and Jerusalem, as in former days." - Malachi 3:1-4 

(Now I AM sending MY messenger.  To those complaining that GOD does not reveal HIS justice nor reward sufficiently those who serve HIM.  Malachi responds by declaring that the LORD will come soon.  He announces the coming of a messenger of GOD who will be responsible for preparing the way for HIM, and that will be the sign of HIS coming soon.

Paragraphs 3:1-2 and 4:22-24 complement each other, and point to John the Baptist.  The Gospel will recall them in Luke 1:17; 7:27; John 3:22.  Also see Mark 9:11.)

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