August 14, 2011 9th of Pentecost

Matthew 15:21-28

21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

   23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

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

   25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

   26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

   27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

   28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

“Great Is Your Faith”

The Canaanite woman wanted something of the goodness of God’s grace in her life too.

She persisted until she got it.  She took the rebuke, came back for more, and hung in there until Jesus could only do what he came to do - bless her.

It is often our vulnerability, our deep needs, which lead us into the arms of a loving, gracious God.  It is also our persistence - our faith which will not give up - which sees the worst in life redeemed and turned into blessing.

Expect to have something of the goodness of God’s grace in your life - and don’t give up until it happens!

 “A God Of Grace” 

There are no favorites with God.  God loves all equally much.  He is a God of grace.

It sounds like Jesus is saying there are favorites, but he isn’t.  He is identifying his ministry- he is not excluding anyone.

The miracle here is not just the healing; her faith is a miracle.

God’s grace comes to us in Word and Sacrament.   AND in acts of kindness, compassion, and friendship experienced and shared in the human experience.  

 i.e. Don Quixote:  When he looked at that cheap and gaudy woman through the spectacles of his grace, he saw a splendid woman.  He said to her, “It’s all right even though everyone says you’re all wrong.  When, she embraced that grace and began to feel it’s power, she became what Don Quixote saw.