Thursday, February 3, 2005
Righteous Simeon the God-Receiver & Anna the Prophetess
2nd Vespers Meeting: Isaiah 6:1-12 Epistle: Ephesians 1:1-9 Gospel: St. Mark 7:24-30
St. Mark 7:24-30, especially vs. 28: "And she answered and said to Him, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the little
dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs.'" Many years ago, the National Park Service provided an unusual
experience to its visitors at the Carlsbad Caverns. Taking separate groups far underground into the caverns, the guides
accompanying each set of hikers directed the visitors to be seated on a slope beside the trail. At that point, all lights within
the cavern were turned off. One cannot imagine the depth of darkness who has not experienced the total absence of light of
that brief moment. It is common to speak of not being able to see one's hand in front of one's face; but there on that slope,
the adage was realized. By every trick one could try, it was impossible to see any movement of the hand before the eyes.
To appreciate the faith displayed by the Syro-Phoenician woman in today's Gospel, imagine a condition of darkness like
that provided by the former practice of the Park Service guides - but with an added twist: suppose the visitors were asked to
resume their way on the trail out of the caverns but warned that if they stopped, the lights would go out again - light would
remain on only as the visitor moved. To this invented fantasy, let us add some realistic words of St. Isaac the Syrian:
"Those upon whom the light of faith has dawned are no longer so audacious as to pray on behalf of themselves; nor do they
entreat God...nor do they in any wise take care for themselves. For at every moment, by the noetic eyes of faith, they see
the fatherly providence which comes of the true Father to shelter them: He Who in His great and immeasurable love
surpasses all in paternal affection and Who more than all, has the power and might to help us in a measure superabundantly
greater than anything we might ask, think, or conceive." To gain such superabundant help of God, so as to see our way
clearly in this dark world, it is necessary, in the words of Father Matthew the Poor, constantly to submit our "whole being
to God, and therefore to all his commandments." By means of prayer, we have to keep moving with and toward God.
Let us return specifically to the example of the Syro-Phoenician woman. Take careful note of her constant movement
toward God. She "heard" of Him despite His efforts to remain hidden (vss. 24,25), and so "she came and fell at His feet"
(vs. 25). The hearing of faith - which is God's gift - set this woman of faith in motion, turned her to prayerful action. She
came to Him; and more, she "fell at His feet." Is prayer less than this - to come to God and fall at His feet? But please
notice, even then, prostrate before Him, she kept moving toward Him in her prayer: "she kept asking Him to cast the demon
out of her daughter" (vs. 26). Moreover, she persisted even when He tested her, when He questioned the direction of her
faith (vs. 27).
St. Clement of Alexandria notes that it is "forbidden to share holy things with dogs, as long as they remain wild." Christ
was in Tyre and Sidon, a pagan region where the religious impulse inherent in men's souls was terribly misdirected. And
St. Clement adds, "it is never appropriate to dilute the pure stream of divinity, the living water, for interests that are full of
malice, disturbed persons, still without faith, who are unrestrained in barking." But this mother disclosed a true faith, one
that would not stop in its movement toward the true God. The woman countered Jesus' query with an assertion of
persistent faith: "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs" (vs. 28). For continuing
to trust Him despite the surrounding pagan darkness, He assured her: "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out
of your daughter" (vs. 29). Having the true Faith, can we do less than pray to the true God?
Fulfill O Lord, the desires and petitions of Thy servants as may be most expedient for us, granting us in this world the
knowledge of Thy truth, and in the age to come, life everlasting.
