“Father welcomes all His
children To His family through His Son. Father giving His salvation. Life
forever has been won.” – Lutheran Service Book
#605
Let Your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend Your
Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without Your help, protect and
govern it always by Your goodness; for You live and reign with the Father and
the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. ~ Collect for
Pentecost 11
“Has God rejected His people?” The Lord
has not totally cast off the people He chose long ago. Even if they are at
times disobedient to His will. God will always preserve for Himself a faithful
remnant. There will be for Him, a faithful remnant as in the days of Elijah.
What
can we glean from today’s lesson is simply this. When God makes a promise He
keeps it. Not like out cheap imitations.
Israel is still chosen. Even though many have cut themselves off.
His
promises are sure. For some, a promise is meant to be broken. But not with our
Heavenly Father! For Him a promise is a promise. He never breaks a promise, “For the gifts and the call of God are
irrevocable.” This is reassuring to us. Who live in a world where so many
times a person’s word has become largely unreliable. He will not disappoint you.
Paul
addresses two sets of ears. The first were Jews who became Christian converts.
The other group, are Gentiles. Like their brothers. They were at one time pagan.
But now they are a part of the family. Paul says to these Gentiles, “You too were once unfaithful, disobedient.”
But because Israel was unfaithful, Gentiles have been brought to Christ.
Many
of you in this room might not have ever met a Jewish person, let alone a Jewish
Christian. Tammy and I have a mutual friend who is both Jewish and a Christian.
A few weeks ago, I reached out to Michelle and asked her for her input with
respect to this portion of Scripture. Her response is as follows…
“This is one of my favorite kinds of questions. I would want them to
know - God's promises to the Jews continue to this day. Irrevocable means
irrevocable.
The
church is grafted into the covenant promises God first made to Israel. There
are more Messianic Jewish believers today than at any time since the first
century.”
She concludes with these
words, “Anti-Semitism is a toxic virus.
Even if you personally don't know any Jewish people, maintaining anti-Jewish
attitudes carries like a virus in our culture.”
Israel’s
unfaithfulness had a purpose. That they might be brought back to God. The Lord
called the Jews to be His people and Paul is positive God does not break His
promises. Paul had this assurance that one day Jews and Gentiles will be in the
church reconciled to God by faith in Christ. The disobedience of one provided
the Lord with the opportunity. To give His mercy and love to all. Jews and
Gentiles were of mutual benefit to each other. When one was shown mercy. The
other shared in the blessing.
God
kept His promises to the Patriarchs. To Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
Maintaining His love throughout. God will never cease to be merciful. God has
never rejected His own. Because God’s promises are irrevocable speaks of His
relationship to the entire world and especially in the world in which you live.
In
this morning’s Gospel Jesus heals a Canaanite woman’s daughter. In this regard
faith embraces Christ – which is NOT about doing right things. Or being
correct. Performing rituals to perfection. Or even eating certain foods. It is
what is on the inside which is the most important.
We
must not forget. Jesus was a Jew. As was the Apostle Paul. These words are
Paul’s concerned, complex attempt to wrestle with the paradox that at least one
Jew saw Jesus as Lord. While most of His people did not. This Canaanite woman
is an unlikely candidate to be the ideal follower of Jesus. She’s Gentile. Yet
she calls Jesus, “Lord” and “Son of David.”
Unlike
Peter. Who fails to understand anything Jesus was doing. Along with Jesus’
other disciples. Who attempt to chase her away.
Discipleship
is not automatic. Instead, a true believer is one who has absolute faith in
Jesus. Paul is attempting to come to grips with the reality that his own people
have not accepted Jesus as the Christ.
Yet all have been disobedient
alike – both Jews and Gentiles together. In spite of everything, God is able to
work through our disobedience to show us His mercy, love and care.
In
Jesus’ conversation with the Canaanite woman there is a wonderful exchange of
words. Jesus responds to her by saying, “It
is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the family puppy.”
She replies by saying, “Yes, Lord, yet
even the mutts off the street eat the crumbs that fall from their masters'
table.”
By
her persistent prayer. That Jesus would have mercy and help her. Even in
the face of His initial silence. And apparent rejection. This Canaanite woman
boldly confessed her faith in Christ.
Her
beautiful example. Encourages us to cling to the words and promises of the
Gospel. Even in the face of the Law. That accuses and condemns us. Do
not think you can walk your way into the Kingdom of God by some grand
achievement. Paul commands a life of faith. By faith we receive the Father’s
gifts. By faith we get precisely what we don’t deserve. And even more! That is
why grace will always be karma’s worst nightmare.
There
is a purpose in all this. “That he may have mercy on all.” (Romans 11:32).
Hence, the woman’s faith and hope were not disappointed. But her prayers
were answered in the mercy of Christ. Not only does He grant us the crumbs
from His Table. He also feeds us with “the children’s bread” in the
house of His Father.
Faith
believes that God is not a Divine Accountant of Probation Officer. Rather, He’s
an indulgent father. Who throws a party. For his indigent son. He’s like an
employer. Who pays employees a full day’s wage. Even though they only worked an
hour. He’s like a lavish wedding host. Who provides copious amounts of only the
best and finest wine. He’s your Good Shepherd. Content to leave behind
ninety-nine of His herd in safety. Who will risk all. To save just one, that is
lost.
This
is the God who desires to bless all people I’m tempted to curse. He includes
those whom I’d exclude. And embraces the very people I would shun. This good
news, He says, is for all people. No one is to be excluded from the Father’s
table.
Tomorrow.
We will witness the great eclipse. May this be our prayer. Lord, through the
power of the Gospel - eclipse fear and hatred. By the power of Your love -
eclipse violence and injustice. By the mercies of Christ - eclipse racism and bigotry [
Words – 1,125
Passive
Sentences – 6%
Readability – 76.8%
Reading Level –
4.7
Luther’s Seal
© Ed Riojas Higher Things
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