Crossing Borders

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
September 6th 2009
Communion Meditation
Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
“Crossing Borders”
Psalm 125; Mark 7:24-37

Because crossing borders can be dangerous fear is a natural reaction. Even when I had the passport and proper documentation, my heart raced the first time I came to the Mexican border. Even the van full of a rambunctious youth-group got silent as we edged closer to the border guards. While it seems a little silly now the fear we felt on that day was quite real. During that trip we visited with the United States Border Patrol. Talking to guards brought home how many dangers there are for those who cross the borders without the proper documentation. The fear I felt crossing the border legally was nothing compared to those who cross in the dark of night. But no matter the circumstance, there is something about crossing boarders that can cause anxiety.
Throughout his ministry Jesus crossed borders. Jesus never faced border guards or militias, but he did face hostility because of his border crossing. Crossing the Sea of Galilee Jesus encountered hostile waters and a legion of demons. In Samaritan territory he faced rejection and the scorn of the religious community. Jesus faced hostility and danger from all sides whenever he crossed into Gentile lands. But on this night, in a house just over the border, something unique happened.
The hostility across the border seems to come from Jesus. A woman desperate for the life of her daughter begs Jesus for healing. And his response is to call her, and her people dogs. There is no explaining this away. It looks like Jesus is caught in a moment of sectarian bigotry – racism. I have heard objections to this interpretation and they are compelling. After all, dogs can be cute, particularly if you are a dog owner. Dogs hold a special place in our lives today. They come into our homes, they sleep in our beds – well some of our beds. And in many ways they are like a member of the family. But no matter how cute and part of the family they are, Dogs are not human beings. To test this assertion I might ask how many of us would appreciate being referred to as a dog. So when Jesus calls this woman, this child of God, a dog, we had better not gloss over it.
While it was not uncommon to cross borders in ancient times, it was unheard of for a Jew, let alone a religious leader to enter into the home of a Gentile. But here, a revered teacher of Israel had crossed the border and willingly entered the home of a Gentile. But what happens on this night reveals to us a risk seldom talked about when crossing borders. That risk is internal. The risk or challenge comes because when we cross borders we do not leave our past, our culture, or even our prejudice behind. We might work to ignore it or overcome it but the messages we hear on this side of the border go with us when we cross. And this is the greatest unacknowledged risk of all.
Since most of us do not cross the national borders with great regularity, if at all, we must ask what borders we do face in our lives. As a follower of Jesus we are called to find those borders, name them and cross them. We are called to be border crossers. It is what we mean when we talk about the ministry of reconciliation.
So where are the borders in our lives? There are natural borders like state and municipal lines but the more important and often seemingly impenetrable borders are ones like these: Highway 40 – for some this was a road that was not crossed even after segregation. There is the Delmar divide which still has mythical power even today. Then there is the Urban – Rural Divide or better stated: “Missouri/Missrourah divide.” And these are just a few of the borders that can be dangerous to cross. But, as followers of the border crosser Jesus, that is exactly what we are called to do.
Now, when we cross borders we are called to move into private spaces. In this passage, Jesus is in a house. This is the most intimate of spaces. You see, it is one thing to mingle with Gentiles in the market place or even in worship. But to enter a home across the border (whatever the border) is a radical act. Entering the home is an intimate act that moves us well beyond superficial relationships. Entering the home allows us to let down and really get honest with one another and that is part of the risk of crossing borders. And that brings us back to the unacknowledged risks of crossing borders.
When Jesus engages this Gentile woman it is not a public or formal setting. It is an intimate setting. While the encounter begins with the woman on her knees begging, it ends as an encounter of equals. Jesus could have said, sure your daughter is healed now go. But instead, he engages her in a dialogue that looks an awful lot like a religious debate between equals. Where I can see this passage as a moment where Jesus shows his cultural baggage I believe it has a more powerful message for us. And that message is about a life dedicated to crossing borders.
To participate in the ministry of reconciliation we cannot allow ourselves to follow the script inherent with each border crossing. Instead, each time we face a border our calling is to speak truth, to let our mouths be opened to speak freely. We are even called to let our bias show and be opened to being challenged when it does. But even more importantly we are to create the space where everyone can engage as equals. For those who have been taught there place is on their knees we must create a space where they can stand tall. And for those who have been taught they always have the right to speak first and with authority, we need to remind them that it is not a sin to remain silent. You will note that this is coming from the preacher. This is our calling, in our lives, and particularly here as we seek to be a living witness to the struggles and joys of border crossing. It is dangerous but always worth the risks. So let us name and cross the borders in our midst. Amen? Amen.