REV. ISAAC ETUAH-JACKSON (IS.56: 1,6-8, ROM.11: 1-2a, MATT 15: 21-28)
Today is the 9th Sunday after Pentecost and also
a day we have accepted these young ones into our fold to be part of the adult
service – congratulations, it is prudent for us to discuss the theme and to be
assured that God’s love is for all of us. Amen
In the first reading, we heard the Prophet Isaiah
foretelling that the expected messianic Kingdom was intended not only for the Jews
but all nations as well. In fact, the theme of the prophet from the pericope we
have read is the call of gentiles to the service of the true God on the great day
which is to come. The temple of that future messianic age will be a house of
prayer for all people.
Beloved, the liberation of the Jews from the exile of
Babylon in 538B.C. was like the last liberation from Egypt, 7 centuries earlier
but the promised Messiah would bring real and final liberation not only to the
Jews but to all mankind. He will set all humanity free from the slaves of sin
and the estrangement from God and will give us all who believe in him, the
eternal kingdom of heaven Amen. Today, the Christian church is the new temple
of God and the new chosen people of God; which is opened to all nations and
people. It is also a place of prayer where all must strive to keep the God’s
Law of faith in Jesus Christ. Amen
Beloved in the Lord this is the fulcrum of Jesus encounter
with the Canaanite woman whose daughter was healed because of her persevering
faith. This woman was a gentile and also belonged to the old Canaanite stock who were the ancestral enemy
of the Jews according to Josephus who was a Jewish historian.
Beloved in the Lord a casual reading would make one to
conclude that the syrophoenician woman was a nag who wouldn’t take no for an
answer. In marks version of the story (Mark 7:24-30), the woman gate crashed a
private party at someone’s home. She approached Jesus three separate times with
the same problem of her daughter’s demon possession.
Beloved in
the Lord, the brightest jewels are often found in the darkest places. Christ
had not found such faith, no, not in Israel, as he discovered this poor
Canaanite woman. She was a woman of amazing faith; though she could have heard
little of him or perhaps had never seen his person at all until the day when
she fell at her feet and said, “Lord help me” v.22. my prayer is that someone
facing a very discouraging circumstance may nevertheless be led by the holy
spirit to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with a strong and persevering faith
and be strengthened by the example of this Canaanite woman. Amen
Beloved in
the Lord I would like to discuss with us four things about this woman which are
worthy of note:
1. Faith’s mouth cannot be closed: v.
23-24
If ever the faith of
a woman was tried so as to make her cease from prayer; it was this woman. She
had difficulty to encounter her daughters healing, but she could not put off
from pleading for her, because she believe Jesus the Messiah is able to heal
all manner of diseases.
*The actions of the disciples did not deter her; they said “send her
away for she keeps crying out after us.”
To the disciples the woman was a nuisance and all they wanted was to get rid of
her as quickly as possible.
*Also this woman’s resolve was not shaken, her motherly heart was very
tender even when Jesus told her “I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Beloved, if we were in the shoes of this woman, we would give up and say in twi
“aden Opoku mfa minku…” Job says though he slays me yet will I trust in him.
2. Faith never disputes with the Lord. V.25-26
Faith worships. Faith pleads but never disputes not even against the
hardest things that Jesus says; Jesus had compared her to a dog an d she never
disputed but agreed and also agreed that the children must be fed first. This
woman who knew her Greek understood that Jesus used the diminutive word for
dogs- Kunaria-household pet dogs which is very different from the pariah dog-which
named the streets and probed in the refuse heaps. The lesson for us here is
that a woman saw a gleam of hope in the words of Jesus; may we also have such
faith and never enter into controversy with God. Amen.
3. Faith argues though it does not
dispute. v.27
The Canaanite woman argues and says yet dogs eat the crumbs. Her
argument was correct and logical; because it was based on Jesus’ own promise.
She was earnest and best of all she believed marvellously. As the children eat
let me have the crumbs which drops from well-filled hands and I’ll be content.
4. Faith wins her suit: v.28 Brethren
in the Lord, the woman’s perseverance and faith in Jesus won her a commendation
from Jesus: woman you have great faith. She gained her desire, her daughter got
healed that very hour. Someone who was disqualified because of her sex and
background- a gentile was included because of her faith in Christ- Gods love is
all people irrespective of tribe, nativity, sex or educational background. A
mother’s love and faith makes her heroic for her child and should be a great
lesson for us as parents.
Nobody can claim a birth right to God’s favour; it is God who shows
mercy and love to all people and today God is showing his love for us by
meeting us at his table where he is both the table and feast. We are not worthy
to so much gather up the crumbs under his table but by faith we may receive the
bread and wine and be made whole. Whatever your circumstance, never give up but
persevere in prayer with an indomitable persistence springing from an- and the
good Lord who loves all people will hearken to unconquerable hope your cry.
Amen.
