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. . . As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord . . . Joshua 25:15b
Proper 15 Yr A
Bro. Robert Lentz OFM, The Syro-Phoenician Woman from the Fine Arts website ( https://pixels.com/featured/the-syro-phoenician-woman-rlspw-br-robert-lentz-ofm.html).
(Ed's note: The Syro-Phoenician woman is Mark's name for the Caananite woman described in Matthew)
Published date 8/17/2023
Editor's note: During the season of Pentecost, churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary have two options. One, often called "semicontinuous" or "Track 1", provides more detail about the Old Testament stories. The other, called "complementary" or "Track 2", more closely marries the Old Testament lesson to the gospel reading.
Introduction
Introduction
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been given a clue about what faith is. Last week Jesus called Peter on his small faith, and this week Jesus again does the unthinkable. A woman from outside the Tribe of Israel pesters Jesus about healing her daughter. At first, Jesus denies her request. Further, Jesus sorta compares her to a dog. Wow! Our Jesus! But she does not give up, and Jesus recognizes her faith as “great”. She simply would not yield in her persistence to receive a blessing from Jesus.
I believe we have ups and downs in our faith—this week my faith may feel strong (like the Syro-Phoenician woman) and ready for any adversity while last week my faith might have been failing (like Peter when he realized he was walking on water). How do you describe your faith? Moreover, how far would you go to receive a blessing? Are you patient? persistent? annoying? confident? Feel free to share your comments.
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
. . . Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just 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.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
From sermon4kids.com: “Even though Jesus came first to the Jew, he loved us so much that he shared his love with all of us. I guess we are a little bit like the dog—even though the meal was not prepared especially for us, it doesn’t keep us from enjoying it.”
Scripture: August 20, 2023, Proper 15 (Pentecost 12) Year A—Track 1: Genesis 45:1-15 (image), Psalm 133 (image); Track 2: Isaiah 56:1,6-8 (image); Psalm 67 (image); Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 (image); and Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (image). Illuminating the scripture, an image and audio journey.
Collect: Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reflection:
Track 1: Why do you think Jesus resisted the Canaanite woman’s request? How does this fit with your idea of Jesus’ mercy and love? What changed his mind? How does this influence your faith in God?
Track 2: Paul declares, “The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” How do the gifts and calling of God support us? How might they support us when we are not aware of them or even when we reject them?
Source: Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press.
Eye Candy: “Woman of Canaan” (late 20th century), painting (Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.) by Sadao Watanabe; “Blind Men” (1882, Russia), by Sergey Ivanov; “The Canaanite woman asks for healing for her daughter” (~1500), painting (Spain) by Juan, de Flores
Ear Worm:
“One faith, one hope, one Lord” by Craig Courtney;
“God moves in a mysterious way” by Graham Kendrick;
“‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus” by Amy Grant
Brain Food: Many of us feel confused by the apparent hostility we see in our lives. Further, we don't know how to deal with it. You will be interested that The Episcopal Church in its “Way of Love” program addresses just some of these issues. The fundamental elements are Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, and Rest. The element "Go" in particular addresses how we may deal with this negativity. I strongly urge you to explore "Go" even if you can't get to each of the elements.
Parables:
“The kid with a bike” (2011, PG-13), “Samantha can’t tell Cyril why she forgives him”, Review;
“Joyeux Noel” (2005, PG-13), soldiers declare unofficial truce in the midst of war, Review;
“Munyurangabo (Liberation Day)” (2007, not rated), unlikely friends, Review
Hymn Notes: The story behind "'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus" by Louisa M.R. Stead (1850-1917) (referenced above):
"Louisa Stead was born in Dover, England in 1850. As a teenager, Stead felt called to be a missionary. She went to America at age 21, and lived for a time in Cincinnati, Ohio. Attending a camp meeting in Urbana, Ohio, she felt the missionary calling even more strongly. Unfortunately, she was not able to go to China as she had intended, due to her frail health. She married a Mr. Stead in 1875 and moved to New York, where the couple had a daughter, Lily.
When Lily was four years of age, the family decided one day to enjoy the sunny beach at Long Island Sound, New York. While eating their picnic lunch, they suddenly heard cries of help and spotted a drowning boy in the sea. Mr. Stead charged into the water. As often happens, however, the struggling boy pulled his rescuer under water with him, and both drowned before the terrified eyes of Louisa and her daughter. Out of her ‘why?’ struggle with God, during the ensuing days, glowed the meaningful words of the hymn "'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" from the soul of Louisa Stead.
Soon after, Louisa and Lily left for the Cape Colony, South Africa, where Louisa worked as a missionary for fifteen years and married Robert Wodehouse, a native of South Africa. Because of her health, the family found it necessary to return to the United States in 1895. Wodehouse pastored a Methodist congregation during these years until, in 1900, they returned to the mission field, this time to the Methodist mission station at Umtali, Southern Rhodesia (present day Zimbabwe). Louisa passed away after a long illness, in 1917, at her home near the Mutambara Mission."
from Enjoying the journey website.
For families: Study guide and activities, (former guide), group activity, snacks, kid video
For children: See family guide/activities (other activity); bulletin, craft
For middlers: See family guide/activities (other activity); bulletin, craft
Coloring: Genesis 45, Power to heal
For youth: The woman in the gospel had faith that Jesus would grant her request. Did she see how unusual that was? That Jesus would accept one who was outcast from his social circle? How about you? What would it mean for OUR church to be a house for all people. There are churches doing just that (look up House for All Sinners and Saints in Denver with Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber). How do you think God would bless the churches that fully adopt all people into their congregations?
(excerpted from “Time for a Crumby Gospel” at the Stewardship of Life website https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2017/08/time-for-a-crumby-gospel/)Comments welcome.
In today’s liturgy, the scriptures deal with the inclusiveness of God’s call. The gospel reading brings a Canaanite woman to Jesus, asking that he heal her daughter. At first, Jesus responds that he is sent only to Jews. However, the woman’s deep faith moves him and he heals her daughter.
Track 1. Joseph, sold in to slavery by his brothers, with God’s help became the most powerful official of Egypt. When famine left the children of Jacob starving, they came to Egypt for food. After letting these unfaithful brothers live in suspense for a time as to whether this great ruler would assist them, Joseph’s love for them led him to reveal his identity. He then brought all the family to Egypt to live in prosperity.
Track 2. In the first reading, we have a vision from a prophetic writer of all people being called into God’s household. God says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.”
In the second reading, Paul is dealing with the role of Jews and Gentiles in God’s plan. Distressed that many of his fellow Jews have not accepted Jesus, Paul nevertheless is certain that they, like the Gentiles, are part of that plan. Indeed, “The gifts and the calling of God [to the Jews] are irrevocable,” he says.
Christianity stands over against those human movements that would exclude some people. God’s call is to every human being. Our gatherings as church must always be faithful to that and we must seek to mirror in our own congregations the complete inclusiveness of God’s call to the human race.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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