Humility
Day 540, Monday, Feb. 2
Mark 7:24 – 8:26
Are we the insiders or the outsiders?
That’s an important question when it comes to reading the Bible. Too often those both inside and outside of the church make the assumption that we are the insiders—the blessed people—who have possession of God’s gifts to withhold or dispense at our discretion.
The story of the Syrophoenician woman in today’s reading is a humbling reminder that the truth is very different from that. We are recipients of God’s bounty, totally dependent on his generosity.
In the story, a Greek (not Jewish) woman falls at the feet of Jesus to ask for healing for her daughter. Jesus responds with harsh words, “First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
This was an era when dogs weren’t honored members of the household. They were considered dirty animals tolerated only for their usefulness in cleaning up cast-off food and controlling pests.
The woman humbly embraces even that low status, saying, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” For her humility, her daughter is healed.
The humbling part of the story comes in realizing that we are in the same position as the woman. Most of us are not from the chosen people, but have received what they first rejected. We can take comfort in the statement, “First let the children eat all they want,” knowing that it was always God’s plan to open his grace to all, but we acknowledge that we are in God’s family through his love, not through our worthiness.

-Rev. Mark Fleming

Monday meditation

Psalms 73:1-12
Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?”
This is what the wicked are like—always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

Prayer focus
We acknowledge our dependence on you, Lord, and thank you for welcoming us into your family.