The In Crowd

Jock or geek, cheerleader or library aide
you get labeled popular kid or nerd,
sometime between birth and eighth grade.
Our fate is sealed: in-group or outsider
and rarely do they let you be remade.
“It’s not right to feed a dog from the table,”
Jesus says. “Who are you calling a cur?”
she shoots back. She could be a New Yorker.
This woman knows how to go toe to toe
with Jesus. She asserts her dignity
changes his dismissal to a blessing
and our view widens from tribal horizon
to the embrace of all-in-all salvation. 

The full scripture quote that inspired this poem is:

Jesus said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said,” Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith!” Matthew 15:26-28

This non-Jewish woman became a member of Jesus’s community not because of her kinship but because of her human connection. She found in him the fulfillment of her need.

I hope this was a good meditation for you. Let me know with a heart or comment.

Images courtesy of A.I. - Poem and video by me.

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