...She replied and said to him, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps." Then he said to her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter."... (Mk 7:24-30)
God is good, all the time.
A recent survey by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) found that almost three in 10 Americans said that "If elected leaders will not protect America, the people must do it themselves, even if it requires violent actions." No doubt, all manner of violent beliefs and expressions starkly contrast the underlying peaceful and constructive use of language that we find in the readings today.
Jesus encourages his followers to be mindful of how they use language to express what is on their hearts. He said the Greek woman in the gospel, whose breathtaking response to his remarks concerning her request moved Jesus to address her request: "Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs." Then answered, "Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's scraps," she said. Then Jesus told her, "For saying this, you may go. The demon has gone out of your daughter."
What was special about what the woman said? It was fer sober, constructive words that bore no semblance of poisonous anger against him for his own lack of quick and friendly comments and response to her request. For cool headedness was part of the reason Jesus praised her.
If we are keen about God's own language throughout the creation narrative, we notice how positive, constructive, and collective his words were. For example, God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." God’s words don’t only indicate how powerful words are they also show us what should be the intent of using them- as gifts to build up, construct life, and edify others.
When the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, in 1858, the words she addressed to her for humanity were positive, constructive, and edifying as they often were seeking true conversion of humanity to live like God. Whenever a Christian speaks, the point is not to make yourself heard but to sound like God towards others. That is when language and words truly become gifts.
May God grants us the courage to be reflective and considerate in the words we speak to the hearing of others so that they don’t hurt and depress them but inspire and elevate them when they feel down. Amen.