The Gospel of Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.” 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 yur faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Let us Pray: Friends in Christ, God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers, as dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions. on behalf of the church and the world. This we pray in your Name. Amen.
The Gospel this week unfolds in two distinct movements, and at first glance one might wonder how they belong together. But when we sit with the text, the connection becomes beautifully clear, and strikingly relevant to the world we live in today. Jesus teaches the crowd that a person is not made unclean by what enters the mouth, but by what comes out of it. Our spoken words, our actions, and the attitudes that flow from the heart reveal our true purity. Once spoken, words cannot be taken back; they can wound deeply, diminish others, and cause lasting harm. Jesus lists the things that “come out of the heart”, evil thoughts, false witness, slander. These are not accidental slips; they reveal the deep currents of a person’s interior life. What should come from the heart is holiness which becomes a matter of integrity, alignment of desire with God, speech that reflects mercy rather than malice, actions that flow from love rather than fear. But what we put into our mouths is eaten and is gone. No residual effects on another person. What we say and do are the things that make us clean or unclean in the eyes of God. One’s words and actions reflect the attitude of one’s heart. Basically, Jesus is saying, don’t worry so much about the purity laws, worry about loving your neighbor. So how does the second part tie into this first part? Jesus had to rethink what his position was with the Canaanite woman. Jesus has entered into Tyre and Sidon where the Canaanite woman instantly greets him. It is remarkable that enough word about Jesus had spread to this region that this woman would somehow know who Jesus is. Nowhere does it say that he performed any signs in Tyre and Sidon before meeting, yet she somehow recognizes him, not just as a roaming healer but as a rightful king. The woman greets Jesus as the “Son of David.” Her recognition is all the more remarkable because the disciples have been a bit slow in recognizing Jesus. In Matthew 14, after the walking on the sea, they do recognize Jesus as the Son of God. Initially, Jesus fails to acknowledge the Canaanite woman and her request for mercy. Anyone with a pressing need knows how horrible it feels to have a dire or significant request for help or information met with dead silence. Women’s words are too often met with silence or are interrupted or disrespected, by men and sometimes by other women. We see this every day in our political arena. Where women are belittled and totally ignored or removed from leadership roles. There are times in our lives when we asked for information or help and received nothing but silence, Would have preferred a curt no to silence. Now Jesus has just told a crowd about words that come from your mouth is what makes you unclean in God’s eyes, and he finds Himself using harsh words against the Canaanite woman. He had to stop and realize what he was doing as he listened to the words from the women who kept shouting after him about her daughter, she kneels at his feet and appeals to his compassion. “Lord, I am asking you for help!” He rationalized his position as not enough of me to go around. He had just finished explaining to his disciples, that the very laws that kept them, the Jewish people, pure and clean and set apart from everyone else, were no longer needed. That it’s our attitudes and actions that make us unclean. And then what does he go and do? He ignores this desperate woman’s request because she is not part of the in crowd! And he doesn’t even realize it. Not until she pushes back and makes him understand his own hypocrisy. And then his eyes were opened. And then he gets it. And his whole outlook on all of humankind changed. Here’s the thing. When it comes to Gods love for human beings. Every single human is in that “in group”. Period. We may never get it right when it comes to how we treat others, how we love our neighbor. We will mess up, again and again. But we can learn. And we can keep trying to make it right. Let us keep trying, The words of this Gospel ring so true today. We look at the political unrest and how we treat each other. It is unfortunate we can’t stop and look at our words and actions and realize that we need to desperately change. We need to learn to really hear one another, to also hear our own words and observe our own actions. Even Jesus had to rethink his words and actions. And he changed his mind and his attitude. Here’s the thing, when it comes to Gods love for human beings, every single human is one of God’s children. We may never get it right, when it comes to how we treat others, how we love our neighbor. We will mess up, again and again. But we can learn. And we can keep trying to make it right. Let us keep trying, with God’s help.
I am going to close with the lyrics from John Lennon’s song, “Imagine’ You may say that I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.
I have included all the words for Imagine. Imagine there’s no heaven It’s easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today… Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace… You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world… You may say I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one Songwriters: Lennon, John Publisher: Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing Powered by LyricFind
Reflections by Bob 