Queerying 11th after Pentecost A

 

Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.

Gospel: Matthew 15:[10-20]21-28

[¹⁰Then Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: ¹¹it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” 

¹²Then the disciples approached and said to Jesus, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” 

¹³Jesus answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Creator has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” 

¹⁵But Peter said to Jesus, “Explain this parable to us.” 

¹⁶Then Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? ¹⁸But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. ¹⁹For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”]

²¹Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. ²²Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 

²³But Jesus did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 

²⁴Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 

²⁵But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 

²⁶Jesus answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 

²⁷She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 

²⁸Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Queeries for the text:
How are the first and second parts connected?
How is what Jesus says ableist? What kind of guides are blind people?
What comes from the heart? How do words defile?
Why is hand-washing important?
Who else are Canaanite women?
Who has privilege and power in this text?
Who else is called dog?
Who receives crumbs?
How do words empower and resist?

What are your queeries?