Faith Thoughts for Sunday September 10, 2006
Based on the sermon, by The Rev. Dr. Anne Miner-Pearson
Mark 7:24-37 & Isaiah 35:4-7a

To hear audio of the sermon, click here

In Mark's gospel, we hear the story of Jesus first refusing to heal a young girl based on what seems like his own limited cultural perspective. Her mother was able to change Jesus' mind and the girl was healed. This picture of Jesus provokes the question of where do we expect to encounter God's presence. I suggested in the sermon that we, like Jesus, often have a narrow view of how and where God's presence and healing power are at work. We can discount people, media and context because we think that God is only present in church and speaking through holy scripture. Yet, the good news was that Jesus' healing did reach beyond his cultural barriers and that same good news is true in our day and culture. God is at work, speaking prophetic, healing words through people who may surprise us - like through rock stars, corporate executives, films and pleading mothers.

1. The picture of Jesus in this passage from Mark's gospel may be somewhat puzzling to us. How could Jesus speak such harsh and even insulting words in answer to the mother's plea? Yet, she changes his mind. How does that fit with your image/view of Jesus? Of God? of yourself?
2. What do you make of prophets? Did they only live in biblical times? Do you believe there are prophets today, speaking holy thoughts and words in our world? Who are they for you? What demons do they want to cast out?
3. Three examples of possible current day prophets were mentioned in the sermon: 1) Bono, the lead singer of the band U2, 2) Spike Lee, film producer and director and 3) a French video game company executive. While only Bono is open about his Christian faith, it was suggested that all three are acting as prophets to point out our failure to be a just and peaceful world community working to eliminate disease and hunger. If God could be working through people like them, how might we have to change our view of popular culture? How could it become a resource for our growth as disciples of Jesus?
4. Obviously, the subtext of the sermon was to point to the theme of Nativity's 2006-07 Adult Education program, "Culture and the Cross.” After reading about it in the Shared Ministry Program brochure, what is your reaction to having such a theme in your church? How do you imagine your participation in the offering will strengthen and/or challenge your faith?
5. The children's story was "Hooway for Wodney Wat" by Helen Lester. It is a story about a rodent named Rodney who can't pronounce his r's. Although shy and embarrassed in the beginning of the story, Wodney saves the day in the end. A book read by speech therapists as a way to affirm children struggling to pronounce correctly and to help them realize their importance as people, it pointed to a surprising voice who restores his school community to harmony. What people, voices, places can you think of which would surprise you if God were at work there?

Isaiah 35:4-7a

Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.

Mark 7:24-37

Jesus set out and went away 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, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “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. Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

God, whose love streams like fresh water
into the deserts of our hearts,
you turn us from greed and partiality
to healing and justice.
Make us companions of those who long for your deliverance,
and give us safe passage at the last
into the land of your shalom. Amen.

Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (CCT), Fortress Press

The Rev. Dr. Anne Miner-Pearson
Episcopal Church of the Nativity
15601 Maple Island Road
Burnsville, MN 55306     952-435-8687
annem-p@nativityepiscopal.net
www.natvitiyepiscopal.net

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