Good Morning Friends,
I have said this before without giving a solution, but we really need to come up with some new language to describe the world in which we live. For me the word modern for example is already descriptive of something dated. The old words are a great comfort, but things have changed. However, my purpose this morning is not to give a listicle of word worthy descriptors for the illiterati, for if you are reading this you are probably more well informed about what really matters most. Still, the social justice and civil rights and human rights and political verbiage just does not seem to solicit the right internal and external responses. So, this morning my intention is to include some breathable air between the text in the hope to sustain us more than drain us.
I am looking for your creativity.
Bottom line is that we need a better heart with a better language for enlightening our real situation and I am not sure exactly how to go about it. Maybe it is about using more inclusive language as today’s story highlights the need. Maybe it is about thinking more in the Hebrew instead of our native language. But then I am a Gentile and know little of the Hebrew language. Maybe it is about blending the words we love to inspire us in new ways. Still, I wonder, How Wide Will The Kingdom Of God Set The Table Of Prayerful Words?
Scripture: Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant— these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 (NRSV)
Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead! for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 (NRSV)
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Matthew 15:21-28 (NRSV)
Message: One of the greatest tragedies in the world is when people continue to live in darkness when they can live in the light. Too many people still live their lives in spiritual darkness when they can live in the life changing light of Jesus the Christ. People live in an if it feels good, do it mentality. The people of Jesus’ day did not have that freedom. Life was much more strictly controlled. Still there was the freedom found in prayer. As a first century, Jewish Rabbi, Jesus was immersed with the practice of praying that brought the understanding of the Father into his life. But today too few know how to pray. Praying was at one time the dominant activity of everything that transpired. Praying was the thread that held all the rites and activities of community together. Whenever a person went to the Temple they would see and hear people and priests praying. And that is because praying was not just private and quiet, it was also public and corporate. Not only was prayer central to Jesus’ life but his life was driven and directed by prayer as well. Undoubtedly Jesus was praying when confronted with the situation of the Canaanite woman. Everything was wrong with that woman in Canaanite-Jewish relations. She was the wrong gender, the wrong religion, and the wrong nationality. But she still spoke up for her convictions because she believed that Jesus Christ could heal her daughter. She had within her the courage and boldness which nourished and strengthened her faith. To test her sanity, Jesus called her a puppy instead of the term dog that would have been common for the time. And the woman was not put off in the least. Then she comes back with one of the great lines in the Bible, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” So too, we are not to take things so personally. We are to realize our collective spiritual potential comes only when we step outside our comfort zone and trust. We are to trust that God has our best interest in hand, we can let go of our fears and prayerfully allow the new words of God’s grace to guide us forward in search of healing. Friends, God’s solution for the problem of our disobedient condition is meant for everyone. Thankfully Paul too was sent to bring God’s good news to those considered religious rejects. But the work is not yet done. And sometimes it takes the Rosa Parks like nonviolent persistence of the nameless woman in today’s Gospel reading to set different standards in place. Interesting that the Canaanite woman was raised in a culture that worshipped the Moon God. But she goes to Jesus who she did not know and yet called the Messiah. Somebody must have told her about him and used the right words to break new territory. Maybe it is true that we cannot move the needle of justice without being politely persistent. Maybe we must be vigilant with a focus on expanding the table of grace on a stable base of justice. But behind that we always must be ready to share a good word that will not come back void.
And So, sometimes there are God imposed delays like the Hebrews entering the Promised Land. Still we are to explore new territory with courage. We are to go where we have not gone before. And the thing is that our one word can make a difference when we do. During the pandemic, depression rates are growing. People are not getting their daily dose of hugs. Perhaps a single word from you could be the reason someone is motivated today. For the Hebrew the word was Yahweh and was not spoke. For the Christian the Word is Jesus but broken into hundreds of words to reflect the character of the Messiah. So set the table wide when it comes to the grace of sharing God’s love. God will stop you if it is not the time. Still when God says all, in John 3:16, God means all and because of that we are to stand firm in the mercy our loving Lord has freely provided, but also be willing to share it.
Pray we realize that we need Jesus. Pray
when we feel weak that we be brave. Pray we show others that they are alive. Pray we make sure we avail ourselves of every chance we get to change for the better. Pray we realize that winning is not everything, but our want is to win. Pray we learn from our mistakes. Pray we realize that to live a better life we need to appreciate the life we have. Pray we share the right word at the right time. Pray we give ourselves the gift of forgiveness. Pray our body and mind speaks confidence. Pray we focus on the vision. Pray we be so good that no one can ignore Christ’s faith is us. Pray we imagine a love story brought to life. Pray we share a word reflecting Jesus that prompts a smile, that motivates belief and shapes the mind for life. Pray we take time to calm down and enjoy this day knowing that we may not know how our tomorrows will look like but that we can still hope. Pray we share the Word made flesh. Pray we realize that all have disobeyed and should rightfully be rejected. Pray we realize with some sense of joy that our loving Lord delights to show mercy and so should we. Pray we come to see the truth of this life and the answer that God gives each one of us. Pray we do not give up before God reveals the miracle of healing. Pray we lean into the moment with faith that God will provide a way. Pray we realize that charity does not expect, and even pretend, that others should adapt themselves to it, but it is always ready to accommodate itself to others. Pray we are thankful that God adapted to us when He became human. Pray we learn the words to describe how to come down from the little pedestal of our personality so we might adapt ourselves to the mentalities, preferences, and needs of an ever-widening community. Pray we successfully overcome crises and hardships without fleeing from challenges or concealing problems. Pray right now along with the Holy Spirit that our words begin to transform our home and communities of believers into houses healed by new words of loving prayer.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 