Lectionary Year B
September 7, 2003
Mark 7:24-37

Step V: Distillation

A. Summary of Salient Features

(JFC) This passage's "theological 'center of gravity'" might be in Jesus' healing both the Greek/Gentile woman's daughter and the deaf mute man near the Sea of Galilee. His dialogue with the woman, Jesus' posture before the verbiage and the method of bringing a cure to the deaf mute might also have some theological significance in that they are somewhat mysterious and might be more of God's working such cures from on high. Other major concerns in this pericope include the woman's faith/trust that Jesus could and would cast out the demon from her daughter and that of those who brought the deaf mute man to Him for healing. Also, the content of the dialogue Jesus and the woman had might be significant, too, as might have been the use of the Aramaic formula with the man. The astonished crowd's assessment of Jesus' works at the end of the lection seems important, too. These observations leave as minor concerns the geography mentioned, the woman's nationality, Jesus' taking the man apart from the crowd and His trying to remain there in secret as well as His telling them to keep quiet what He had done.

B. Smoother Translation

(JFC) 24 But from there (Jesus) went up to the region of Tyre. And having entered a house there He wished for no one to know, but He was not able to be hidden; 25 and immediately having heard about Him, a woman who had a daughter with an unclean spirit, came and fell at His feet; 26 but the woman was Greek/Gentile, of the Syrophoenician nation/race, and she asked him that the demon could be driven out from her daughter. 27 And He said to her, "Let first to eat the children, for not is it good to take the bread from the children and give to the dogs." 28 But she answered and said to Him, "Lord, also the dogs under the table eat the crumbs of the children." 29 And He said to her, "Through this saying/word you may go home/back, and will have escaped from your daughter the demon/evil spirit." 30 She went to her home to find the child on the couch/bed and the demon/evil spirit having gone out/away. 31 And again going from the region of Tyre He went through Sidon to the sea/lake of Galilee into the region of the Decapolis. 32 And they bring to Him a deaf and mute one having difficulty speaking and they appeal to Him in order that He put/place on him the hand. 33 And having taken the man aside from the crowd and secretly he put/gave His finger to his ears and having spit He touched his tongue. 34 And having looked up to the heavens He sighed/groaned and said to him, "Be opened" which is explained. 35 And immediately was healed/restored of him the hearing, and the loosening of the bond of the tongue of his and he was speaking correctly/properly/plainly. 36 And Jesus gave orders to/commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded, the more abundantly/utterly they made (it) known. 37 And completely they were amazed saying, "He does all so well, and the deaf He makes to hear and the mute/dumb able to speak."

C. Hermeneutical Bridge

(JFC) Could Jesus be trying to expand the horizons of the woman whose daughter was thought to be infected by an evil spirit? Surely He wouldn't have been down-playing her concern for her daughter; yet, He might have been trying to remind her and others observing these words and actions that hunger was then, as it is globally now, a severe problem. When He mentioned the eating of children/families/nations in the midst of His preparing to cure the infected daughter, might He have been employing such strategies? Or what? Any further ideas?



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