Genesis 32:22-32/1 Thessalonians 4:1-7/St Matthew 15:21-28
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Feminists will cry foul. They will malign Jesus with all sorts of verbal epithets. Yet for Christians, who subject their feelings, their reason, their own expectations to the Word and promises of God, this account of the Canaanite woman is a wonderful and blessed Gospel lesson.
Like last Sunday, this text is meant to instruct the neophytes, the newbies, those who were receiving catechesis in the Christian faith. For Lent was historically a season for instruction of those who were new to Christ. The first Sunday in Lent, Invocabit, teaches the catechumens about the reality of their arch-enemy, the devil. They are comforted with the obedience of Christ in their stead and taught to invoke the Name of the Blessed Holy Trinity into which they are baptized; to “call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.” The Word of God alone has the power to defeat and drive away the old evil foe.
This second Sunday, Reminiscere - remember - is not only a prayer for God to remember His mercy as we see in the Gospel, but also a call to Christians to remember that not only do you have the devil hounding you, biting at your back; sometimes, it seems, that even God Himself is against you. He is silent to your pleas; giving you the cold shoulder. Certainly there are times when you pray and God’s answer to your prayer seems to drop on your plate before you can say “Amen.” This Sunday, though, is a reminder to old Christians that its most often not like this; and to an exhortation to all new Christians, Christianity is not easy, but it is the most joyous cross you will ever bear.
In fact, many times we struggle and wrestle with God in prayer, and like Jacob, end up limping away. We cry out like the woman in the Gospel and we feel ignored, excluded, and insulted. What if such a staggering blow hit our hearts? Surely we would have given up in prayer and succumb to the needling of the devil who says, “See, it was an illusion. There is no God who hears your prayers. Even if there were, He wouldn’t be bothered to listen to the likes of you.” Should we just hang our heads and walk away? Leave Christianity to someone else? Leave prayer to someone else? Someone more pious and good? More worthy?
Today you are urged, “Do not give up!” The Word and promise of Christ compel you to trust and pray. Do not listen to the troubling doubts, but learn from the woman in Canaan how you ought to pray and petition our Lord under similar circumstances. She is the living embodiment of our Lord’s words: Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and th door shall be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened (Mt 7:7-8).
She came to Jesus; she a Canaanite. Perhaps she was trying to hide the fact that she had no claim on Him by using the title, Son of David. Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. One of Satan’s evil horde had grabbed hold of the child and wasn’t letting go. It was filling the poor little one with the hatred and bitterness, the rage and anger and resentment that comes straight from hell. She heard that the Healer has come to her area; He who is the perfect gift from above, who has never turned away a cry for mercy. And so she runs to Him and pleas.
Christ certainly heard her cry, but He answered her not a word. What treatment from the Merciful One! Even the disciples are shocked at how He treats this woman. They intervene on her behalf, but it does no good. He simply tells them, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. So much for praying to the saints! Not only is it useless, it is idolatry. Even here the disciples can’t help.
But she would not be deterred. If she had tried to fool Him by using the Messianic title, Son of David, she now removes all pretense and disguise. He knows she’s not one of the chosen people. And so does she. But she doesn’t care! Though not an Israelite, she trusts this Man to have mercy and save. She follows Him into the house, St Mark tells us, she worships at His feet and insists, Lord, help me!
Surely if only for her persistence He will help her now. No! He answered her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
He ignores her. He tells her she’s not one of the chosen people. Now He calls her a dog, unworthy of the children’s bread He was sent to give His people! Had it been us we would have charged out of there, convinced it was useless. But she does not slink away! She doesn’t give up, even at this!
Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table. See how she wrestled with our Lord! See how she clung to His word and promises! I will not let You go until You bless me!
What a superb and wonderful lesson this is to teach us what a mighty, powerful, all availing this faith is. Faith takes Christ captive to His Word, when He’s angriest, and makes out of His cruel words and comforting inversion, as we see here. “You say,” the woman responds, “that I am a dog. Let it be, I will gladly be a dog; now give me the consideration of a dog.” Thus she catches Christ with His own words, and He is happy to be caught. He let Himself be made captive and must comply.
And thus she wins not only the right of a dog, but also that of the children. She is given a place at the table. Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
This is a brilliant masterpiece! Study this woman, dear Christian, learn from her. Bring your requests to Jesus in prayer. Own up to the fact that you have no claim on Him, that you don’t deserve a place at the table, but are a poor, miserable sinner. Yet do not cease to plead for His mercy. For the reality is that Christ came only for sinners. Christ died only for sinners. Christ forgives only sinners. And if He seems to turn His back on you, don’t believe it. Never doubt that you have a “Yes” in heaven, imbedded in the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His Father’s, and in His time it will be revealed.
For this is His way to test those who come to Him. He teaches His Christians the long, hard way. Not that they may rely on themselves, on their feelings, and how they think things should go in their lives. He teaches His Christians, Hid dear little ones, to trust in Him and His great love and mercy. He teaches you the way of the cross.
Think of it: this woman didn’t even know the whole story. Not like you do, yet she clung to Him. How much more reason do you have not to give up? For you know where His love drove Him: to the Cross, laden with your sin! You know how He shed His precious blood to wipe out your sin and undo your death and deliver to you the gift of eternal life.
St Paul had this in mind when he asked: What then shall we shay to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? My dear Christians, you are more than conquerors through Him who loves you. You are His elect.
Behold, this is what He gives you. Here is His merciful answer. A place at His Table. Bread for you, His children. These are the crumbs for the Master’s Table, His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins, for the driving away of your demons, for your life and salvation. He remembers His tender mercies and His loving kindness. The Supper is His everlasting “Yes.”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
Feminists will cry foul. They will malign Jesus with all sorts of verbal epithets. Yet for Christians, who subject their feelings, their reason, their own expectations to the Word and promises of God, this account of the Canaanite woman is a wonderful and blessed Gospel lesson.
Like last Sunday, this text is meant to instruct the neophytes, the newbies, those who were receiving catechesis in the Christian faith. For Lent was historically a season for instruction of those who were new to Christ. The first Sunday in Lent, Invocabit, teaches the catechumens about the reality of their arch-enemy, the devil. They are comforted with the obedience of Christ in their stead and taught to invoke the Name of the Blessed Holy Trinity into which they are baptized; to “call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.” The Word of God alone has the power to defeat and drive away the old evil foe.
This second Sunday, Reminiscere - remember - is not only a prayer for God to remember His mercy as we see in the Gospel, but also a call to Christians to remember that not only do you have the devil hounding you, biting at your back; sometimes, it seems, that even God Himself is against you. He is silent to your pleas; giving you the cold shoulder. Certainly there are times when you pray and God’s answer to your prayer seems to drop on your plate before you can say “Amen.” This Sunday, though, is a reminder to old Christians that its most often not like this; and to an exhortation to all new Christians, Christianity is not easy, but it is the most joyous cross you will ever bear.
In fact, many times we struggle and wrestle with God in prayer, and like Jacob, end up limping away. We cry out like the woman in the Gospel and we feel ignored, excluded, and insulted. What if such a staggering blow hit our hearts? Surely we would have given up in prayer and succumb to the needling of the devil who says, “See, it was an illusion. There is no God who hears your prayers. Even if there were, He wouldn’t be bothered to listen to the likes of you.” Should we just hang our heads and walk away? Leave Christianity to someone else? Leave prayer to someone else? Someone more pious and good? More worthy?
Today you are urged, “Do not give up!” The Word and promise of Christ compel you to trust and pray. Do not listen to the troubling doubts, but learn from the woman in Canaan how you ought to pray and petition our Lord under similar circumstances. She is the living embodiment of our Lord’s words: Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and th door shall be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened (Mt 7:7-8).
She came to Jesus; she a Canaanite. Perhaps she was trying to hide the fact that she had no claim on Him by using the title, Son of David. Son of David, have mercy on me. My daughter is severely oppressed by a demon. One of Satan’s evil horde had grabbed hold of the child and wasn’t letting go. It was filling the poor little one with the hatred and bitterness, the rage and anger and resentment that comes straight from hell. She heard that the Healer has come to her area; He who is the perfect gift from above, who has never turned away a cry for mercy. And so she runs to Him and pleas.
Christ certainly heard her cry, but He answered her not a word. What treatment from the Merciful One! Even the disciples are shocked at how He treats this woman. They intervene on her behalf, but it does no good. He simply tells them, I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. So much for praying to the saints! Not only is it useless, it is idolatry. Even here the disciples can’t help.
But she would not be deterred. If she had tried to fool Him by using the Messianic title, Son of David, she now removes all pretense and disguise. He knows she’s not one of the chosen people. And so does she. But she doesn’t care! Though not an Israelite, she trusts this Man to have mercy and save. She follows Him into the house, St Mark tells us, she worships at His feet and insists, Lord, help me!
Surely if only for her persistence He will help her now. No! He answered her, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
He ignores her. He tells her she’s not one of the chosen people. Now He calls her a dog, unworthy of the children’s bread He was sent to give His people! Had it been us we would have charged out of there, convinced it was useless. But she does not slink away! She doesn’t give up, even at this!
Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master’s table. See how she wrestled with our Lord! See how she clung to His word and promises! I will not let You go until You bless me!
What a superb and wonderful lesson this is to teach us what a mighty, powerful, all availing this faith is. Faith takes Christ captive to His Word, when He’s angriest, and makes out of His cruel words and comforting inversion, as we see here. “You say,” the woman responds, “that I am a dog. Let it be, I will gladly be a dog; now give me the consideration of a dog.” Thus she catches Christ with His own words, and He is happy to be caught. He let Himself be made captive and must comply.
And thus she wins not only the right of a dog, but also that of the children. She is given a place at the table. Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
This is a brilliant masterpiece! Study this woman, dear Christian, learn from her. Bring your requests to Jesus in prayer. Own up to the fact that you have no claim on Him, that you don’t deserve a place at the table, but are a poor, miserable sinner. Yet do not cease to plead for His mercy. For the reality is that Christ came only for sinners. Christ died only for sinners. Christ forgives only sinners. And if He seems to turn His back on you, don’t believe it. Never doubt that you have a “Yes” in heaven, imbedded in the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His Father’s, and in His time it will be revealed.
For this is His way to test those who come to Him. He teaches His Christians the long, hard way. Not that they may rely on themselves, on their feelings, and how they think things should go in their lives. He teaches His Christians, Hid dear little ones, to trust in Him and His great love and mercy. He teaches you the way of the cross.
Think of it: this woman didn’t even know the whole story. Not like you do, yet she clung to Him. How much more reason do you have not to give up? For you know where His love drove Him: to the Cross, laden with your sin! You know how He shed His precious blood to wipe out your sin and undo your death and deliver to you the gift of eternal life.
St Paul had this in mind when he asked: What then shall we shay to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things? My dear Christians, you are more than conquerors through Him who loves you. You are His elect.
Behold, this is what He gives you. Here is His merciful answer. A place at His Table. Bread for you, His children. These are the crumbs for the Master’s Table, His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins, for the driving away of your demons, for your life and salvation. He remembers His tender mercies and His loving kindness. The Supper is His everlasting “Yes.”
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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