February 11, 2010
Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The LORD, therefore, became angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice (for though the LORD had forbidden him this very act of following strange gods, Solomon had not obeyed him). So the LORD said to Solomon: "Since this is what you want, and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I enjoined on you, I will deprive you of the kingdom and give it to your servant. 1 Kings 11:9-11
He said to her, "Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Mark 7:27-28
Piety
Happy those who do what is right, whose deeds are always just. Remember me, LORD, as you favor your people; come to me with your saving help, that I may see the prosperity of your chosen, rejoice in the joy of your people, and glory with your heritage. Psalm 106:3-5
Study
The food that Jesus serves is offered to all, not just to the children of Israel. Up until this point, the Jews claimed the ministry of Jesus as their own. However, Jesus’ love knows no political or racial bounds. The children of the Gentiles are symbolized by the dogs who eat the scraps of those at the table – who want to get the residual effects of the love and healing that Jesus has shared elsewhere.
Once again, we see the Gentiles recognizing the power of Jesus much more readily than did his own family and neighbors. Because of this faith, the woman’s daughter is cured. Although there were distinct social and ethnic walls erected in ancient Palestine, Jesus worked to break down the walls. He cured the Greek woman’s child. He cured the child of the Roman centurion. He engaged the Samaritan woman at the well in dialogue. The examples are found throughout the Good News. Jesus did not limit his signs and healing to the Jews.
Action
What walls do we erect like this in today’s society? Sometimes, the last ethnic group to benefit from social change wants to close the doors on those groups which follow them fearful that their place in the social order will be displaced to the new/next group.
That does not stop the Catholic Church from working for immigration reform. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently announced steps to push for the enactment of immigration reform legislation in 2010.
“It is our view, and that of others, that the American public, including the Catholic and other faith communities, want a humane and comprehensive solution to the problems which beset our immigration system, and they want Congress to address this issue,” said Bishop John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, Utah, and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration. Steps include a nationwide action alert asking for Congress to enact immigration reform as soon as possible.
“The first principle of the U.S. bishops with regard to immigration is that migrants have the right not to migrate---in other words, to be able to find work in their own home countries so they can support their families in dignity,” he said. “Migration should be driven by choice, not necessity.”
Sister Rita Mary Harwood, a Sister of Notre Dame and Secretary for Parish Life and Development in the Diocese of Cleveland, spoke about support for immigration reform in Ohio, where nearly 300,000 postcards will be distributed throughout the state.
“In the end, to stand with those who are frightened, alone or in danger; to educate, to speak with and for, and to pray---this is the message of the Gospel and the work of the Church,” she said.
Bishop Wester concluded that the Church will work to make sure that legislators act on this issue in the near future. “We remain committed to moving immigration reform as soon as possible,” he said. “We hope to make sure that our federal legislators are committed to that goal as well.”
