Thursday, February 13, 2003
5^th Week in Ordinary Time

1st Reading: Gen 2:18-25
Gospel: Mk 7:24-30

Jesus went to the border of the Tyrian country. There he entered a house and did 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 dogs.” But she replied, “Sir, even the dogs 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 reply 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.

Gospel Commentary

Today we see Jesus’ solicitude toward a Greek woman whose daughter was possessed by evil spirit. Jesus’ mercy is shown as reaching out beyond national boundaries. The compassion of Jesus is not confined among his peers and his people. But beyond borders, beyond nationalism, beyond races, beyond frontiers. His compassion overflows and reaches all people. It assures us that God understands us and is willing to cure and expel the “evil spirits” that possess us.

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