Biblical References: Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
Tune: Traditional Irish melody; harmony by David Evans, 1927 ("Be Thou My Vision")
Text: Copyright © 2002 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.
Copied from Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009).
Email: bcgillette@comcast.net
New Hymns: www.carolynshymns.com/
This hymn was selected to be included in Singing the New Testament (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and Christian Reformed Church, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2008).
See also Hymns Celebrating Women of the Bible and Books About Women of the Bible.
Hymn Use Permission: Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009) includes a permission note for those who own this book to use this hymn (along with the 76 other new hymns in the book) in their local church's worship services. People who do not own Songs of Grace are asked to contact Carolyn (bcgillette@comcast.net) for permission to use the hymn and to get a copy of the hymn formatted for worship bulletin use.
"She Came to Jesus" was written in 2002 for the celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the ordination of the Rev. Dr. Dorothea Brooks, with fourth verse:
Bless by your Spirit this minister here
Who has served faithfully year after year —
Breaking down barriers, persistent and bold,
Leading your people back into your fold.
When the Canaanite woman first approached Jesus asking for help, "he did not answer her at all." When he did answer, he said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 15:23-24). Many people are perplexed by Jesus' initial response to this desperate mother. Why did he speak to her in the way that he did?
While his words seem harsh at first, he did have a conversation with her about her faith, and he did listen to what she had to say. Then he healed her child. He confirmed what she believed — that God's love is "not bounded by place," or culture, or anything else.
So many people whose lives were touched by Jesus were outsiders; they were people "outside the fold." Why are we sometimes hesitant to reach out in ministry to other people? Do you know anyone who — following Jesus' example — has a wonderful gift for talking to anyone and breaking down stubborn barriers between people from different backgrounds and cultures?
Adapted from Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009).