Mark 7:24-37 Astounded Beyond Measure 9 9 18

This story of exorcism in absentia and physical healing from the gospel of
Mark reveals significant pieces of Jesus’ humanity. The scene opens with the fact
that Jesus didn’t want anyone to know he was in town. He wanted to keep a low
profile, and maybe rest for a while from the crowds. Have you ever done that?
You go out of town, but don’t let everyone know you are there. I know people
who come in town to see friends, but not family… Hiding in plain sight.
I found some great pictures of celebrities hiding from photographers. (Of
course, the fact that there are pictures of these efforts tells us they weren’t
completely effective!) There is a photo of Justin Bieber hiding from photographers
by putting a pillow over his face as he came out his front door. Alec Baldwin
regularly puts on a cap and sunglasses, grabs a Starbucks cup and hops on his bike
to blend with the crowd. Matthew McConoughy also uses the cap and sunglasses
ruse, but hops on a skateboard to take his dog for a walk. Supermodel and
actress Tyra Banks uses her fashion sense to appear like a run of the mill (and
gorgeous) professional when she is riding the subway. Robert DeNiro simply
changes his affect and body language and disappears into crowds. That’s a good
actor!
Despite our best efforts, depending on who does know our whereabouts,
the word can spread fast. Jesus had that effect, apparently. He had just arrived in
the new place and “Immediately the Syrophoenecian woman heard about him.”
The word traveled that fast not just because he was like a celebrity and people
wanted to catch a glimpse, his presence caused a stir because the people were
astounded by the things he was doing.

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 We knocan imagine that Jesus was astounded, too. He had a quick-witted
conversation with the Syrophoenecian woman, an outsider. His human prejudice
came out when at first he called her a dog, the common derogatory term for
Gentiles or non-Jews in Jesus’ day. Then he was challenged by her that “even
dogs get scraps from the table.” As a result of this encounter with an outsider, his
divinity emerged. The human preconceptions were dissolved, and Jesus’ own faith
entered in. He was not only astounded enough by the woman’s strength to heal
her daughter, he was so astounded by this Gentile, that he changed his direction
and went to Sidon. He was so astounded by this woman, that he expanded his
ministry of healing and good news to a region of Gentiles. Because he was
astounded, he did something different.
You and I are astounded beyond measure in recent weeks for a vast
number of reasons. We are astounded – horrified - that immigrating parents are
still separated from their children. Astounded – shocked - at the natural disasters
in Japan. Astounded – thrilled - that India has decriminalized same sex
relationships. And astounded that a modern day political leader called another
person a dog.
These are events and realities beyond measure. What does our
astonishment do? What meaning or purpose can there be in experiencing the
moments of being agog? Amazed? Stunned? Speechless? The missing piece is the
embrace of divinity and faith. When we are astonished without faith, we can fall
into cynicism and become defeated. When we are astonished with faith, our
inner wiring starts to rearrange. “If I thought this was true, and it’s not, I need to
readjust.”

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 We have an opportunity at the end of the month to attend a solidarity
storytelling event at the Church House. This is the first of a series of Evanston
meetings to hear first hand the stories of immigrants to the United States. In the
context of a potluck meal, together with people from all over the North Shore, we
will hear stories of struggle and fear, and a truth we may not have heard before.
And we will be astonished beyond measure.
In order not to leave such a profound evening feeling depressed and
discouraged, we can respond like the ones who witnessed Jesus’ intervention in
devastating circumstances –incorporate new truth into our own discernment
about who God is and who we are called to be as people of faith who are facing
injustice in our midst. When we hear these powerful stories, our ears will be
opened and we will be able to hear even more accounts of immigration that will
stir our hearts. Our ears will be opened and our tongues will be released so we
can put words to the changes that are happening in our faith and in our
community.
Changes don’t happen in a vacuum. The woman who came to Jesus, came
on behalf of her daughter, and the man who was deaf was brought to Jesus by his
friends. Sometimes we need a hand to get us where we need to go. I am thankful
to the Solidarity Task Force for giving our church a hand in learning about the
current experiences of immigrants coming to this country, as well as the reality of
their lives once they are here. In order for our ears to be opened and our tongues
released, we need the help of other people of faith. Thank you.
At the end of our story about Jesus, we learn that he continued trying to
keep a low profile in that town even after ridding the girl of a demon and healing
the man born deaf. He didn’t put a bag over his head, instead “He ordered them

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to tell no one.” But the truth was, they were astounded beyond measure, and
they were overcome with an urge to speak out about how astounded they were.
Whether referring to our astonishment in these or other stories, you and I
are compelled to share with zeal, to all people. We are compelled to welcome all
people, to seek out all people and to embrace all people. In our celebration
today, open your ears to hear stories from people you don’t know well, and new
stories from those you have known a long time. You will be amazed and
astounded.
Amen.

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Mark 7:24-37
Anne: From there Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered
a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape
notice.
Ann: A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard
about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a
Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her
daughter.
Anne: Jesus said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the
children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
Ann: She answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s
crumbs.”
Anne: Then he said to her, “For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your
daughter.”
Ann: So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
Anne: Then Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon
towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a
deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his
hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his
fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to
heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Eph-pha-tha,” that is, “Be opened.” And
immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke
plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them,
the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure,
saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the
mute to speak.”

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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome back to the choir, and special thank you to the Sunday school
teachers who are serving in the classroom this season.
I am astounded that there are 20 children here today! How wonderful is
that! We celebrate their presence in worship, and in their play and energy during
the picnic as well as in the Narthex Art Gallery.
The gallery show that opens today is a showing of work by our children
during the summer, in their workshops with Rhonda Storm and Sharyn Julcher.
Please take time to enjoy the gallery and applaud everyone who contributed to its
success.
Film buffs will be happy about upcoming events: Film next Sunday, “Days of
Glory” Proceeds support mission work in Funyula, Kenya, that empowers and
equips grandparents to care for their grandchildren orphaned by the AIDS
epidemic throughout continental Africa. Series on anti-racism which is happening
all over the state. Possible through our membership in the Community Renewal
Society.
Solidarity and Storytelling at the end of the month. Possible through our
participation with the Solidarity Response/Sanctuary Team of Evanston4All.