Thursday 9 February 2023

Today is Thursday the 9th of February, in the fifth week of Ordinary time.

CalledOut Music sings, ‘Worst Days’.


God of everything
You reached out to me
Made a home in my heart
I just can't explain
I just stand in awe
Of Your wonderful love
And even on my worst days, it stays the same
I just don't understand
How high, how wide
How deep is Your love
How high, how wide
How deep is Your love
Love that knows no end
I'm wrapped up in the arms
Of my Father
I'll never lose my position
I will always be Your child
That's all that matters, oh
'Cause even on my worst days, it stays the same
I just can't understand
How high, how wide
How deep is Your love
How high, how wide
How deep is Your love
How high, how wide
How deep is Your lovе
How high, how wide
How deep is Your love
Oh, it reachеs to the depths of my soul
And it won't let go (Oh, wonderful love)
Mm, there's nowhere else I'd rather be
Nowhere else for me, oh, wonderful love, yeah
From Calvary to eternity
I'm Yours forever, yeah (Oh, wonderful love)
O Jesus, Your love knows no end, and the sweetest of taste
Oh, wonderful love
How high, how wide
How deep is Your love
How high, how wide
How deep is Your love

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.


Mark 7:24-30

From there he 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, but 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. He 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.’ But she answered him, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.’ Then he said to her, ‘For saying that, you may go—the demon has left your daughter.’ So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.

Like yesterday, today’s reading offers a straight-talking encounter, but this time it is a woman, an outsider by her gender and her nationality, who gives Jesus a robust answer. What must it have taken for her to speak to him as she does? How does Jesus’ reply to her strike you?

Jesus seems to allows this woman the space to answer back to him. How do you imagine that felt for him? Have you ever found yourself arguing with God? What was the end result of that?

As we listen to this remarkable reading being read again, notice what strikes and stays with you. Allow yourself to be drawn into the dynamics of the conversation. Do you remain a bystander or are you drawn into the dialogue and feelings expressed?


This is a story about healing, but it’s also about growth in faith and growth in awareness on both sides. Do you experience God as static and distant, or as responding to you and your questions? What do you want to say to Jesus right now?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.