1 Kings 11:4-13
Mark 7:24-30
In today’s first reading, we see already that Solomon got so comfortable with his kingship, wealth, and wives that he forgot, and acted contrary to, his primary identity as a faithful servant of Yahweh. Do I let God shape my identity rather than other people whose images are often so misleading?
On the contrary, the Syrophoenician woman who asked Jesus to heal her daughter in today’s gospel passage knew who she was and confidently lived out that identity as a MOTHER and a faith-filled believer. Her faith was strong. She did not let even Jesus turn her aside from what she knew was possible from God for her life. How difficult that must have been! What gave her the strength to claim her identity?
Somewhere down deep inside of us, we know that we are God’s children. We are radiant with the Spirit of love and life. What we ask in prayer, with faith, we will receive, but sometimes it takes patience and a deeper faith. You have to remove the gift wrapper before you see the gift itself. Can I stay in touch with that part of me and know, truly know, who I am? I pray that I can consistently act from a certain assurance that God knows who I am and loves me completely.
So, no matter what happens in this world, no matter the challenges and obstacles, no matter who offers me their love and who doesn’t, no matter whether I have a place at the head table or I am eating the scraps beneath it, I have my identity in God, who will never leave me alone and who will never fail.
Fr Joseph Osho