Who are the chosen?

Scripture: Genesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 133  • Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 and Psalm 67  • Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32  • Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

In Mark's account of Jesus' encounter with the Syrophoenician woman, in what is now Lebanon, Daniel Clendenin, in "Send Her Away!"  states that ..."four of the six readings this week remind us that the Christian story is fundamentally about divine inclusion conquering human exclusions.  About bringing people in to the fullness of God's shalom, rather than shutting them out in a zero sum game.  In particular, the readings show how this is true in two areas that people love to hate — sexuality and nationality," with several scriptural references. In his reading of Psalm 67, God's love crosses national boundaries, and he cites Paul's famous writing that "In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." What do you think? Is this relevant today? If so, how?

Jesus' ministry expands from the One who is to bring light and redemption to the Jews, as he heals the daughter of the Syrophoenician woman. In "Who are the chosen," Katerina K. Whitley says, "... The Incarnation is vivid in this story, as is the theology of kenosis [ κένωσις] – the ‘self-emptying’ of our will to become receptive to God’s will. Jesus learns something from a humble woman and from a mother’s love. This is a story to be honored, to be proclaimed and to fill us with gratitude. “Lord have mercy on me,” she cries. And the Lord shows mercy to one considered an outcast. God’s mercy covers all of us."