Going to the Dogs

Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

Psalm 67: 1-7

Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

Matthew 15: [10-20] 21-28

  

First Lesson: Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

Challenges:

In the Chronicles of Narnia the great lion Aslan says that “All times are soon” when the children ask him to clarify that word’s meaning in connection with their seeing him again. The Lord says in Isaiah, “for soon my salvation will come and my deliverance be revealed…” I certainly hope and trust that “all times are soon” but sometimes salvation and deliverance can seem so far away.

Opportunities:

I almost feel like saying to the RCL committee: “Ah, I see what you’re doing there…with you reference to foreigners in the First Lesson going nicely with the Gospel lesson for today.”  This lesson does add some context to Jesus’ interaction with the “foreign” woman in Matthew 15.  This could be a great opportunity to talk about the long history of Israel’s relationship with the other peoples around them. 

If this is what you want to do, be sure to show both sides of the issue. It’s not like the people of Israel were always snooty elitists who didn’t want to let the “wrong” people in: quite often the people around them were oppressors, bullies and generally bad neighbors. At the same time, it’s important to note that the people of Israel weren’t always those being oppressed: they had slaves that had been captured on raids in other countries, they had their own issues with oppression and destruction.  I guess I’m saying this is a nuanced situation and it takes two to tango (or say two hundred!). 

Be sure to talk about how there is guilt on both sides of these situations!

Good News:

If God is drawing a line between “in” and “out” it’s always more broad, welcoming and inclusive than we might expect. You see this in scripture quite often.  How about those terrible, awful Moabites? Well…there’s Ruth isn’t there?  And how about those crazy-awful Syrians…don’t forget Naaman.  And that’s nothing compared to what happens in the New Testament. Can anyone say “Cornelius” or “Ethiopian Eunuch?” If God is drawing a line, and making of circle between “in” and “out,” it’s much more generous than we can imagine.  I think that if we find ourselves on the outside of that line it’s because we’ve jumped over it ourselves.

The Psalm: Psalm 67:1-7

Challenges:

I’m looking for challenges and it’s hard to find any here. Maybe this: how do you talk about verse 6 with “…God, our God, has blessed us.” In relation with the other nations?  This doesn’t have to be exclusive, but it easily can become so.  I guess it all depends on how you look at something being “mine” or “ours.”  If you mean, “It belongs to me and I call the shots,” that is very problematic when it comes to talking about God.  If you mean, “I belong to it/him/her/whatever and it calls the shots,..” that’s a much better way of talking about God.

Opportunities:

There’s quite a bit of violence, tension and ill-will out there.  You might be surrounded by people who are tired of “foreigners” and “those people” and “insert racial slur here.”  This psalm, along with so many other pieces of scripture, can help us to remember that God isn’t just the God of Israel, the United States, wherever, but of all the nations.  If you haven’t picked your worship music already (although I’m sure you have, being a very responsible group of people), the hymn This is My Song in the ELW could be a good choice for this Sunday.

Good News:

Where’s the Good News?  It might be harder to find if you think you are on the inside and will now have to deal with all of those outsiders.  But if you can put yourself in the shoes of an outsider who longs to be on the inside, this is VERY good news indeed.

Second Lesson: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32

Challenges:

There are times when I get excited about a “logical” (notice I use that in quotes) argument as the next person, but usually it’s not my cup of tea in worship.  That’s been the case with quite a few of these Romans readings. And another thing (and I am indebted to my friend and colleague Father Jeremiah Williamson on this one). The idea that God “imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all,” is more than a bit problematic. If humans acted in this way, it’d be insane. For instance, say someone abducted and imprisoned another individual and locked them up in a basement, only to release the imprisoned person as a way of showing mercy. We’d be (quite rightly) appalled. 

And another thing…couldn’t we have included verse 33 with this lesson? I’d encourage you to do this.  This is the moment, after all of this reasoning and thinking, that Paul throws up his hands and says, “Wow, it’s just up to God and I can’t understand it all!” Quite right too.

Opportunities:

I’m drawing a blank here guys. Sorry!

Good News:

“The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” (Romans 11:29a)

Gospel: Matthew 15: [10-20] 21-28

Challenges:

Two things Jesus doesn’t necessarily come across and a good guy in his interactions with this Canaanite woman (at least at first).  I know, know being “nice” is often overrated. But this seems to be more than this: he’s kind of a +#&%@*!.  What do we do with this?

And another thing, especially if you included verses 10-20, the “purity laws” and codes of those days can take a bit of explaining.  It’s very easy for present-day people (especially in Western Societies) to look down on those “backward” ancients and their “silly” codes. Sure, the way many of these codes were followed was silly, but it’s important for us to remember that WE HAVE OUR OWN PURITY CODES AND LINES TODAY.  Who we talk to, what we wear, how we eat, how we use hand sanitizer, etc.

Opportunities:

As a way of addressing our own purity codes/laws I’m planning on having a bowl of salsa/dip/whatever at the front of the sanctuary along with a bag of chips.  I’ll take a scoop of dip with one chip and, in front of everyone, double dip. It will be interesting to see everyone’s reaction. 

Want to make your congregation uncomfortable? Maybe you could talk about race-relations in America today.  What are the "purity" lines that are still in place here today?  Which lines are REALLY dangerous to cross?  Start out with some harmless, fun stuff (like the double dipping example above) and then when everyone is relaxed and in a good mood. Start to bring these sorts of questions into the mix.

When it comes to this Canaanite woman's persistent, determined faith and parallels with today consider this quote from N.T. Wright's Matthew For Everyone: "Being a Christian in the world today often focuses on the faith that badgers and harries God in prayer to do, now, already, what others are content to wait for in the future.  In the early nineteenth century many Christians believed that slavery was evil and would eventually have to stop, but not many wanted to do it just yet.  William Wilberforce and his friends worked and prayed, devoting their lives to the belief that what would happen in the future had to happen, by God's power, in the present as well.  That is the 'great faith' upon which Jesus congratulates this woman." (pg. 201)

Good News:

From one of my previous sermons on the line between insiders and outsiders:

“So there's a line...and it separates those on the inside and those on the outside.  God has a line too, but it doesn't look like the line the world draws. It's bigger and more generous than you can imagine.  Every time we humans try to figure out who's on the right or wrong side we end up getting it wrong.  The world's line will shift and change and sooner or later it'll leave you out in the cold.  But God's line, drawn with the blood of Jesus Christ will always be wider than you can imagine.  Let's all act accordingly.”