September 8, 2024

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

The Sound of Justice

 

Rev. Ken Jones

 

           I have always thought that Jesus was trying to teach the Disciples, and by extension, us, to see through the conventions of the world. To look, hear, touch, and smell everything in this amazing creation from a different point of view. Which is why I was fascinated by the quote in the Gathering document by Hisako Kinukawa on the Mark passage for today. The story is often called, The Syrophoenician woman.

 

          To back up a bit, once upon a time, I was in conversation with an Indigenous elder who counselled me to... (I can’t remember the exact quote) ... however, the message was clear and with me today. He said, “Experience the world by tasting with your eyes, seeing with your hands...” etc. He appeared to be mixing up the senses and their functions. It got me wondering about things like Justice.

 

           What does it look like? What does it taste like? What does it sound like? What does it smell like? What does it feel like? Or maybe it might be better to say, "What would it, or might it?" as I am not sure we have arrived there yet.

 

           My understanding of Hisako’s assertion is that this might be more of a play on culture than I previously thought. The Syrophoenicians of Tyre were the "haves," and the Galileans, the "have-nots." So were she and Jesus swapping roles here? Has the dog become the master, and the master the dog?

 

          Then is this a play on political and social norms disarming and removing the barriers of convention? After all, she and Jesus should never have been in conversation in the first place. Jewish, historical enemy of the Jews, woman, unaccompanied by a man, who has a daughter possessed in some way. Can this be any more like “don’t touch this with a ten-foot pole”? Yet it happens in spite of it all.

 

          I think this could look, sound, feel and smell a little like the beginnings of Justice.

 

          What is the sound of Justice?

 

          I am going to play the Singing Crystal bowls for a while and let you meditate. You may wish to set your intention to contemplate on Justice or just watch your breath. If you have a meditation practice, feel free to use your technique during this time. If you have never meditated, one thing that seems to work for many is to do what is called heart math. The math part is to count to 5 as you breathe in, and 5 as you breathe out. The heart part is in your mind's eye. Visualize that your breath is coming in and out of your heart through your chest. At some point, the bowls will play themselves into silence. When I play them again you will know the meditation is coming to a close.