What does Jesus mean when he tells his disciples to “take up their cross and follow him.”? Consider the fact that up until this point, the disciples haven’t seen Jesus crucified on a cross yet. It hasn’t happened yet. So a cross, for them, is nothing special. It’s not salvific. It is not redemptive. It is simply a method for killing people. Why is this important? Because we have to distinguish between the crosses we bear and Jesus’ cross. The “crosses” you bear, your suffering, are not salvific or redemptive. The pain you have in your neck is simply that . . . a pain in the neck. It may be your “cross to bear” as the phrase goes, that pain in your neck, but it is much different than the cross Jesus had to bear. Your cross makes your life miserable for you while Jesus’ cross makes your life eternal for you.
Why is it so important to make this distinction? A distinction between your cross and Jesus’ cross? Because knowing the difference means that you can ask God to heal that pain in your neck without feeling bad, or ashamed or sinful or ungrateful to God. He intends you to have life and to have it abundantly. He listens to prayers for healing. He does not intend your life to be filled with horror, pain, fear and misery.
Many people believe that the pain in their life is their “cross to bear” as the saying goes. They believe that God has given it to them for their own good, or as a test, or as a punishment. Perhaps you have made the best of your pain under a mindset like this or learned something from all your problems and accepted them quite willingly. I am telling you that you may nail your crosses, your pain, your suffering and all your sin on Jesus’ cross. You don’t have to carry all that anymore. Call on Jesus to bear it all for you. He already bore the weight of your sin, your suffering, your pain and your death on his cross. Jesus was a pain to pain, suffering suffered at Jesus’ hands, death died once and for all on his cross. All those other “crosses that you bear” dim in comparison with the cross of Jesus.
There is a big difference between a cross you bear and Jesus’ cross. Many women have lived through a life of fear and abuse while being told that it was their “cross to bear”. Well that kind of cross leads only to death the way every other cross and crucifixion has, except one. Our crosses only lead to death and end there. Jesus’ cross is different. Jesus’ cross kills the power of death and leads to life. His cross alone and not any one of yours. Yet, the Devil always seeks to convince us that our “cross” is more important or integral to our virtue than Jesus’ cross. We are always tempted to hug our pain and suffering tightly to our chest, like a comforting teddy bear, rather than holding on tightly to the cross of Jesus—laying everything on him. There is a difference between your “cross to bear” and Jesus’ cross. One will always lead to death and stop there. The cross of Jesus leads you through death and then showers you with life.
When I lived in North Dakota on internship, I played in a racquetball league. Now, I tried very hard in this league but week after week I lost. It was very hard on my self-confidence, I must admit. I really dislike losing. But after three and then four weeks of losing I started thinking, “Well, hey, someone’s got to lose right? Why not me a future pastor? Someone who can really accept these loses with dignity. Someone who could bear that cross. Other people were happy to win at my expense? It was like I was doing them a favor. But then I won.
I won! And that was no good, because I had lost my virtue! My cross was stolen from me. By this time, I had become such a “good loser” that I missed that feeling of virtue once I had won. I know that this might sound a little weird, but I realized that I was actually attempting to use my suckiness at racquetball to defend myself from God. Yes, that’s right! Defend myself from God. How? If I could rely on my virtue and bear my own cross, I wouldn’t have to rely on God completely for my salvation. I thought I was being especially “Christian” when, really, I was just an especially bad racquetball player. Maybe my fellow players who were beating up on me each week thought favorably of my character, but God wasn’t impressed.
This is a common temptation. If we can’t be the best at something, we try to be really good at being the worst—martyrs hoping at least for pity if not for the prize. But in God’s eyes you and I are all the same and Jesus’ cross saves us all. We are sinners, not saints in ourselves. But when God finds us in Jesus Christ, we are saints through and through.
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” As I said before, remember that, for the disciples, Jesus hadn’t died on the cross yet, so what did a “cross” mean to them? They didn’t have the resurrection in mind the way we do. Crosses, to them, were for crucifixions. Crosses were for criminals. Crosses meant death, and not a nice way to die either.
Earlier, Jesus had just told his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering and be killed. Peter didn’t want this and he told Jesus so. You can imagine what the other disciples would have thought about this idea as well. Not too popular is my bet. But now Jesus is telling them, “I must die, even though you don’t want it to happen. And, if you are going to follow me, you might as well be carrying your own cross and prepare yourselves for death as well. Following me will get you killed. Deny yourselves and your desire to save your lives, leave your lives in my hands.
What would you do? Well, I’d probably run the other way. And, at the cross, that’s exactly what they all do. The disciples either betray Jesus, deny association with him, abandon him or watch everything from far away. It’s not until after Jesus’ resurrection that they are given faith to believe all that Jesus has told them: The cross he spoke of that day referred not only to their deaths, but also new lives. And later on, when they each marched off to their deaths whether carrying a cross or struck down with a sword, you can bet that they each believed that their lives were in God’s hands. They had tried to save their lives by abandoning Jesus at the cross, but they failed. Now that they would die for faith in Jesus, they could believe that God had chosen them for eternal life even after death.
If it hasn’t happened yet, every one of you will experience your own denial of Jesus, your disassociation with him, your doubt of God and your betrayal of your own morals. Thinking to save your life at every turn, no matter what the consequences, each one of you will die, “For the wages of sin are death.” But, my prayer for you is that when you have finally reached the end of your days, and there are no ways out, and death is approaching, you will finally realize and believe once again that God has chosen you for eternal life even after death. Your death has already died. Your sins are forgiven.
Jesus says, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” There is a difference between your crosses and the cross of Jesus. You have many and they all end at death. Jesus has one and his ends with life. Jesus calls you to follow him all the way to your death, but finally, not to trust in your deathyou’re your suffering, but in his death and resurrection for your hope and eternal life. Amen.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Sermon for August 24th
Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” At first, they have trouble answering. You shouldn’t be surprised if you do too. “Who is Jesus anyway?” Many Christians get wrapped up in looking to the “experts” who write books or get interviewed or write commentaries or start cults. Many people in the world are willing to admit that there really was a Jesus who was crucified in the 1st century, but they would argue that Jesus was probably just another Jewish prophet. Jews and Muslims say that Jesus was a prophet too—a great and important prophet in fact!—but nothing more than that. Some theologians argue that Jesus was one of the first feminists. My grandma says that Jesus is God. Some people I know would say that Jesus is simply a figment of my imagination. Who is Jesus anyway? It is difficult to discover that answer just by listening to who other people say that he is.
But what are our other options? “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples. This personal relationship with Jesus is obviously very important. After we answer the question of who other people say that Jesus is, I guess this is the next place to look. But sometimes, people get a little too involved in studying their own personal relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately, all too often, our answer becomes a reflection of what we need or want Jesus to be.
For instance, there was a time, not too many months ago, when Jesus was, for me, a shelter. I hid under his wings against the destroying storms thundering all around me and I prayed that he would just protect me until it was all over. This is biblical imagery, of course, but is that all that Jesus is? A hiding place? Some people talk about how Jesus was a subversive—just like them amazingly enough!—and they talk about how God spoke to them one day while they were reading their Bibles and said, “Get off your duff and march on the capital!” Jesus says, “Who do you say that I am.” And we sometimes even get it right . . . mostly, but we miss a lot of other things at the same time.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” What a wonderful confession. Peter is perfectly right of course, but that doesn’t seem to keep him from getting it all wrong a few verses later. Jesus tells his disciples that he must die, but Peter doesn’t want that to happen to his Messiah. First he is called the rock on which the church will be built and, in what must seem like a moment, he is told, “Get behind me Satan!” This doesn’t give me much hope for my personal confession I must admit. Do you think you would fare much better?
Throughout the gospel of Matthew, the question of Jesus’ identity keeps getting mulled over, questioned and discussed. Is he just a miracle worker? Is he an amazing prophet? Is he a god? Is he the Son of God? Is he the Messiah? But even after everyone gives their answers, Jesus has something important to say. “I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” “Who do you say that I am? The Messiah? You’re right! Thanks be to God! And now let me tell you who you are! That’s right Peter, let me tell you who I think you are.” Which do you think means more to Peter? Who Peter thinks Jesus is or who Jesus thinks Peter is?
We don’t know what to think about Jesus do we? On the one hand, rationally, we have trouble knowing who to turn to and where to look in order to know who he is. Should we call him God, just a prophet, or a figment of our imagination? Then, when the rubber hits the road, we confess who he has been for us. A shepherd. A comfort in trying times. A friend, all our sins and griefs to bear. A rock that we beat our heads against. But after we hear all these answers and answer the question ourselves, we are left in the same predicament. Are we right? We are always waiting to hear that next part: who or what does Jesus think we are? Lost of found? Friend or foe? Sheep or Goat?
You see, as I was preparing this sermon, I didn’t want to tell you who I thought Jesus was because you might just want to agree with me, since I’m your pastor and all, and try to weasel out of your own personal confession, which you are all going to have to make before Jesus eventually. Another option I had was to tell you what everyone else thinks thinks about Jesus so that you might make up your mind, but then I wondered whether you’d believe someone else or, for that matter, whether those other people were even right in the first place?
Then I considered tapping into your feelings and experiences and talk about who Jesus has been for you up to this point in your life. A friend during the hard times? A pain in the neck? An obstacle? Or maybe just a tough idea to wrap your mind around?
Finally, I decided that I couldn’t count on any of these options because they were all based on what I thought, or what someone else thought or what you thought. There was always a loophole, always a problem . . . I couldn’t be sure that I was speaking the truth. So, I turned to the only authority I know where I could be sure that what I was saying was the truth. I turned to the Bible and decided that I would let you know who God thinks you are and let that suffice.
Take a moment and ask God this question: “Who do people say that I am?” Of course, for each of you this will be different, but let me throw out a few guesses if I may. People might say that you are a hard worker, right? Or a lazy good-for-nothing. Maybe you wonder if people say that you are stupid, or maybe annoying, or hardheaded or good-looking or kind?
Now, ask this question with me, “Jesus, who do you say that I am?” “Jesus, who do you say that I am?” Now that is an interesting and important question to have answered. Who does Jesus say that you are? Study your Bibles and you’ll find that Jesus has much to say about you. I’ll let you know some of what I found out. Jesus says, “You are a sinner. You are a liar. You are a cheat. You are an adulterer. You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You are forgiven.”
I would like you to consider for a moment what the Christian life might look like if we stopped focusing so much on who other people say that Jesus is and if we stopped focusing so much on who we think Jesus is ourselves. I would like you to consider what your life might look like if you stopped focusing on who other people say that you are and if you stopped focusing so much on who you think you are yourself. I would like you to hear again who Jesus says that you are: Jesus says, “You are a sinner. You are a liar. You are a cheat. You are an adulterer.” What else is there to say but, yes, Jesus this is all true. Forgive me. You are perfectly right and I am completely wrong. Jesus also says, “You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You are forgiven.” What else is there to say but, yes, Jesus if you say so. You must be right. I’ll take your word for it. You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God after all. I guess I’ll have to believe you. And if you find yourself saying this, consider yourself blessed. For it is not because someone made you or you had to say it, flesh and blood did not reveal this too you, but your Father in Heaven has revealed your faith for you.
But what are our other options? “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples. This personal relationship with Jesus is obviously very important. After we answer the question of who other people say that Jesus is, I guess this is the next place to look. But sometimes, people get a little too involved in studying their own personal relationship with Jesus. Unfortunately, all too often, our answer becomes a reflection of what we need or want Jesus to be.
For instance, there was a time, not too many months ago, when Jesus was, for me, a shelter. I hid under his wings against the destroying storms thundering all around me and I prayed that he would just protect me until it was all over. This is biblical imagery, of course, but is that all that Jesus is? A hiding place? Some people talk about how Jesus was a subversive—just like them amazingly enough!—and they talk about how God spoke to them one day while they were reading their Bibles and said, “Get off your duff and march on the capital!” Jesus says, “Who do you say that I am.” And we sometimes even get it right . . . mostly, but we miss a lot of other things at the same time.
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” What a wonderful confession. Peter is perfectly right of course, but that doesn’t seem to keep him from getting it all wrong a few verses later. Jesus tells his disciples that he must die, but Peter doesn’t want that to happen to his Messiah. First he is called the rock on which the church will be built and, in what must seem like a moment, he is told, “Get behind me Satan!” This doesn’t give me much hope for my personal confession I must admit. Do you think you would fare much better?
Throughout the gospel of Matthew, the question of Jesus’ identity keeps getting mulled over, questioned and discussed. Is he just a miracle worker? Is he an amazing prophet? Is he a god? Is he the Son of God? Is he the Messiah? But even after everyone gives their answers, Jesus has something important to say. “I tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.” “Who do you say that I am? The Messiah? You’re right! Thanks be to God! And now let me tell you who you are! That’s right Peter, let me tell you who I think you are.” Which do you think means more to Peter? Who Peter thinks Jesus is or who Jesus thinks Peter is?
We don’t know what to think about Jesus do we? On the one hand, rationally, we have trouble knowing who to turn to and where to look in order to know who he is. Should we call him God, just a prophet, or a figment of our imagination? Then, when the rubber hits the road, we confess who he has been for us. A shepherd. A comfort in trying times. A friend, all our sins and griefs to bear. A rock that we beat our heads against. But after we hear all these answers and answer the question ourselves, we are left in the same predicament. Are we right? We are always waiting to hear that next part: who or what does Jesus think we are? Lost of found? Friend or foe? Sheep or Goat?
You see, as I was preparing this sermon, I didn’t want to tell you who I thought Jesus was because you might just want to agree with me, since I’m your pastor and all, and try to weasel out of your own personal confession, which you are all going to have to make before Jesus eventually. Another option I had was to tell you what everyone else thinks thinks about Jesus so that you might make up your mind, but then I wondered whether you’d believe someone else or, for that matter, whether those other people were even right in the first place?
Then I considered tapping into your feelings and experiences and talk about who Jesus has been for you up to this point in your life. A friend during the hard times? A pain in the neck? An obstacle? Or maybe just a tough idea to wrap your mind around?
Finally, I decided that I couldn’t count on any of these options because they were all based on what I thought, or what someone else thought or what you thought. There was always a loophole, always a problem . . . I couldn’t be sure that I was speaking the truth. So, I turned to the only authority I know where I could be sure that what I was saying was the truth. I turned to the Bible and decided that I would let you know who God thinks you are and let that suffice.
Take a moment and ask God this question: “Who do people say that I am?” Of course, for each of you this will be different, but let me throw out a few guesses if I may. People might say that you are a hard worker, right? Or a lazy good-for-nothing. Maybe you wonder if people say that you are stupid, or maybe annoying, or hardheaded or good-looking or kind?
Now, ask this question with me, “Jesus, who do you say that I am?” “Jesus, who do you say that I am?” Now that is an interesting and important question to have answered. Who does Jesus say that you are? Study your Bibles and you’ll find that Jesus has much to say about you. I’ll let you know some of what I found out. Jesus says, “You are a sinner. You are a liar. You are a cheat. You are an adulterer. You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You are forgiven.”
I would like you to consider for a moment what the Christian life might look like if we stopped focusing so much on who other people say that Jesus is and if we stopped focusing so much on who we think Jesus is ourselves. I would like you to consider what your life might look like if you stopped focusing on who other people say that you are and if you stopped focusing so much on who you think you are yourself. I would like you to hear again who Jesus says that you are: Jesus says, “You are a sinner. You are a liar. You are a cheat. You are an adulterer.” What else is there to say but, yes, Jesus this is all true. Forgive me. You are perfectly right and I am completely wrong. Jesus also says, “You are mine. You are my child. You are my beloved. You are forgiven.” What else is there to say but, yes, Jesus if you say so. You must be right. I’ll take your word for it. You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God after all. I guess I’ll have to believe you. And if you find yourself saying this, consider yourself blessed. For it is not because someone made you or you had to say it, flesh and blood did not reveal this too you, but your Father in Heaven has revealed your faith for you.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sermon for August 17th
Who is the real hero in this story? Is it Jesus or the Canaanite woman? Who gets the glory? Who is the hero? Is it the woman’s faith we are to be amazed by or Jesus’ power we are to be awed at? Should we be upset by Jesus’ perceived racial intolerance? Should we be upset that the woman can’t take no for an answer? Who is the hero? Who gets the glory?
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, According to God, there are two types of people: the Jews and everyone else. According to the Jews, there were two types of people as well: the Jews and the Gentiles. Jews and barbarians. The children of God and the dogs. Jesus reflects this understanding in the passage today, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
Are any of you here Jews? No? Oh dear. Well, that is a problem. Because, you see, the Jews are God’s chosen people. Throughout the Bible, they are a chosen race. They are a nation set apart by God to be a blessing to others. And as the apostle Paul points out so clearly in the book of Romans, even after Jesus’ death and resurrection, they still are. Why? Because “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Who is the hero in this story? Who gets the glory? As sinful human beings we are always asking this question. We are always seeking glory. We look for heroes. We like to see glory in ourselves or even in others so that we can reproduce it. This is probably why we like to watch things like the Olympics. We like to watch the best of the best and, if truth be told, we would like to be the best of the best ourselves. If I lived closer to an indoor pool, you’d better believe that you’d see me practing my 200 men’s freestyle . . . at least until I got lazy and stopped going just about the time the Olympics were over. We all love glory and are always seeking a way to find it for ourselves.
Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. In fact, competition is extremely important for our society. For a capitalist economy it is absolutely essential. Our appreciation of good work helps us understand our relationships with each other. I bet very few men or woman explain their choice of a spouse by saying, “I fell in love with him or her because they were so lazy or such a weakling or so annoying.” No. We look for the best. However, this glory seeking is very unhelpful in understanding our relationship with God.
Now, neither you nor I would argue that we are doing anything “glorious” when we do evil things like the things listed in the gospel today. The gospel author calls these things “evil intentions”. He lists murder, adultery, fornication, lying, stealing and slander. You can be sure that talking badly about someone, randomly killing another human being, or having sexual relationships with people other than your spouse is not pleasing to God. But even when we keep ourselves from these evil intentions, we get wrapped up in seeking our glory in other places and other ways.
So when we read the gospel today, we look for glory. Who’s got it and who hasn’t. Who’s the hero and who’s not. And I think that you and I really like it when, as least for a moment, someone besides Jesus looks like a hero.
Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But the woman responds, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” How do you think the woman speaks to Jesus? With righteous indignation? Softly and passively? With tears in her eyes or with fire in her belly? Does she stand up to this intolerant Jesus as a heroine of the first century or does she try to reach out to Jesus’ sense of compassion to let him become the benevolent savior? You know what? I don’t think it matters. Why not? Because this passage isn’t about heroes and heroines, tolerance and intolerance at all. We may want to find these things in the story because that’s what we talk about in our lives, but we need to hear what is actually said in the passage.
No matter how this woman said what she said, it matters much more what she said. She spoke the truth. Or to be more accurate, she confessed the truth. She didn’t demand that Jesus give into her wishes by calling him an intolerant Canaaniteaphobe and a Jewish racist. She didn’t skulk away as a wilting flower hoping that Jesus would just forget all his silly rules and promises and heal her daughter because love conquers all! She confesses the truth, “I am a dog. I am a Canaanite. I am not a Jew. And you are my Lord and master. So don’t give me the children’s food. Give me only my crumbs. That is all I deserve.” And do you know what? With Jesus around it is a good day for the dogs.
With Jesus around it is a good day for the dogs. This story is not about heroes and glory the way we’d like it to be. The woman in the story is no better or worse than you. She sins, just like you. Her children get sick just like yours do. She is not a Jew, she is a dog . . . just like you. And she knows the truth just like you. Now, knowing the truth might not seem like a big deal to you, in fact, it might even feel a bit degrading. But as Jesus says in the gospel of John, once you know the truth, the truth will set you free. But set free from what?
Well, to start off, you are set free from seeking glory from a mirror. Finding glory in yourself. You are not a Jews so you don’t have to look at what your parents and ancestors did or didn’t do to know how much God loves you. God doesn’t love you because you are white or Hispanic or Chinese or Canadian. God doesn’t love you because you were born into the right family or not. God’s love isn’t based on that.
What else are you set free from? You are set free from seeking Olympic glory. Seeking glory for what you do or how well you do it. God doesn’t need you to be a hero in order to earn his love. God doesn’t need you to win eleven gold medals to earn his love. God doesn’t need you to prove your love for him in order to earn his love. In fact, you can’t earn God’s love. God’s love for you isn’t based on that either.
What is God’s love based on? Jesus Christ. Jesus lived for you and died for you so that God’s love for you would always be based on Jesus’ choice. Who does he choose? Sinners, the undeserving, the worst of the worst, the dogs of this world . . . he chooses you. He loves you. So the next time you need a little love or healing or deliverance or compassion or salvation just confess the truth to God. “I am sick. I was wrong. I am helpless. I am a sinner. I don’t understand. I am a dog. Master, where are my crumbs.”
It is a good day for the dogs. That is good news for you and me. We are not Jews, we are Gentiles. We are dogs. Today, come to your Master’s table. Today he is handing out some crumbs at his supper. That is all you deserve and it is also, thankfully, all you need for the forgiveness of yours sins and eternal life.
Let us pray, “Dear God. We are dogs. We are sinners. We are weak, you are strong. And when you are done pouring out your unconditional love upon the Jews, your chosen people, thank you for dropping a few crumbs of love on the floor for us. For out of your abundance we are fed with the same one heavenly food. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Our breadcrumb from heaven. Amen.”
Throughout the Old and New Testaments, According to God, there are two types of people: the Jews and everyone else. According to the Jews, there were two types of people as well: the Jews and the Gentiles. Jews and barbarians. The children of God and the dogs. Jesus reflects this understanding in the passage today, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
Are any of you here Jews? No? Oh dear. Well, that is a problem. Because, you see, the Jews are God’s chosen people. Throughout the Bible, they are a chosen race. They are a nation set apart by God to be a blessing to others. And as the apostle Paul points out so clearly in the book of Romans, even after Jesus’ death and resurrection, they still are. Why? Because “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
Who is the hero in this story? Who gets the glory? As sinful human beings we are always asking this question. We are always seeking glory. We look for heroes. We like to see glory in ourselves or even in others so that we can reproduce it. This is probably why we like to watch things like the Olympics. We like to watch the best of the best and, if truth be told, we would like to be the best of the best ourselves. If I lived closer to an indoor pool, you’d better believe that you’d see me practing my 200 men’s freestyle . . . at least until I got lazy and stopped going just about the time the Olympics were over. We all love glory and are always seeking a way to find it for ourselves.
Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. In fact, competition is extremely important for our society. For a capitalist economy it is absolutely essential. Our appreciation of good work helps us understand our relationships with each other. I bet very few men or woman explain their choice of a spouse by saying, “I fell in love with him or her because they were so lazy or such a weakling or so annoying.” No. We look for the best. However, this glory seeking is very unhelpful in understanding our relationship with God.
Now, neither you nor I would argue that we are doing anything “glorious” when we do evil things like the things listed in the gospel today. The gospel author calls these things “evil intentions”. He lists murder, adultery, fornication, lying, stealing and slander. You can be sure that talking badly about someone, randomly killing another human being, or having sexual relationships with people other than your spouse is not pleasing to God. But even when we keep ourselves from these evil intentions, we get wrapped up in seeking our glory in other places and other ways.
So when we read the gospel today, we look for glory. Who’s got it and who hasn’t. Who’s the hero and who’s not. And I think that you and I really like it when, as least for a moment, someone besides Jesus looks like a hero.
Jesus says, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But the woman responds, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” How do you think the woman speaks to Jesus? With righteous indignation? Softly and passively? With tears in her eyes or with fire in her belly? Does she stand up to this intolerant Jesus as a heroine of the first century or does she try to reach out to Jesus’ sense of compassion to let him become the benevolent savior? You know what? I don’t think it matters. Why not? Because this passage isn’t about heroes and heroines, tolerance and intolerance at all. We may want to find these things in the story because that’s what we talk about in our lives, but we need to hear what is actually said in the passage.
No matter how this woman said what she said, it matters much more what she said. She spoke the truth. Or to be more accurate, she confessed the truth. She didn’t demand that Jesus give into her wishes by calling him an intolerant Canaaniteaphobe and a Jewish racist. She didn’t skulk away as a wilting flower hoping that Jesus would just forget all his silly rules and promises and heal her daughter because love conquers all! She confesses the truth, “I am a dog. I am a Canaanite. I am not a Jew. And you are my Lord and master. So don’t give me the children’s food. Give me only my crumbs. That is all I deserve.” And do you know what? With Jesus around it is a good day for the dogs.
With Jesus around it is a good day for the dogs. This story is not about heroes and glory the way we’d like it to be. The woman in the story is no better or worse than you. She sins, just like you. Her children get sick just like yours do. She is not a Jew, she is a dog . . . just like you. And she knows the truth just like you. Now, knowing the truth might not seem like a big deal to you, in fact, it might even feel a bit degrading. But as Jesus says in the gospel of John, once you know the truth, the truth will set you free. But set free from what?
Well, to start off, you are set free from seeking glory from a mirror. Finding glory in yourself. You are not a Jews so you don’t have to look at what your parents and ancestors did or didn’t do to know how much God loves you. God doesn’t love you because you are white or Hispanic or Chinese or Canadian. God doesn’t love you because you were born into the right family or not. God’s love isn’t based on that.
What else are you set free from? You are set free from seeking Olympic glory. Seeking glory for what you do or how well you do it. God doesn’t need you to be a hero in order to earn his love. God doesn’t need you to win eleven gold medals to earn his love. God doesn’t need you to prove your love for him in order to earn his love. In fact, you can’t earn God’s love. God’s love for you isn’t based on that either.
What is God’s love based on? Jesus Christ. Jesus lived for you and died for you so that God’s love for you would always be based on Jesus’ choice. Who does he choose? Sinners, the undeserving, the worst of the worst, the dogs of this world . . . he chooses you. He loves you. So the next time you need a little love or healing or deliverance or compassion or salvation just confess the truth to God. “I am sick. I was wrong. I am helpless. I am a sinner. I don’t understand. I am a dog. Master, where are my crumbs.”
It is a good day for the dogs. That is good news for you and me. We are not Jews, we are Gentiles. We are dogs. Today, come to your Master’s table. Today he is handing out some crumbs at his supper. That is all you deserve and it is also, thankfully, all you need for the forgiveness of yours sins and eternal life.
Let us pray, “Dear God. We are dogs. We are sinners. We are weak, you are strong. And when you are done pouring out your unconditional love upon the Jews, your chosen people, thank you for dropping a few crumbs of love on the floor for us. For out of your abundance we are fed with the same one heavenly food. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Our breadcrumb from heaven. Amen.”
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