Sunday, August 20, 2017, Pentecost 11 (full size gallery)
Lots of attention on the sun this week as shown early in the slides and with the eclipse next week. Despite the rising heat levels, we set a record with the Village Harvest at 167 people on Aug. 16. School supplies seemed much appreciated. Thanks to Andrea Pogue for taking the pictures. They made a big difference!
This may be called "Eclipse Sunday", the day prior to the total solar eclipse moving across the US on Aug. 21. Catherine is away in the mid west with her daughter and husband trying to catch a total solar eclipse view.
Through the Bible there are accounts of eclipses in both Old and New Testaments. One of the most famous in Luke which describes the crucifixion as occurring during an eclipse. "It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land [or, earth] until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed [or, the sun was eclipsed]; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. As one source has written "the biblical details do not accord with an eclipse: a solar eclipse could not have occurred on or near the Passover, when Jesus was crucified, and would have been too brief to account for three hours of darkness. The maximum possible duration of a total solar eclipse is seven minutes and 31.1 seconds."
Salli Hartman from St. Paul’s who is working on her diaconate discernment preached and Ron Okrasinki retired from St. Mary’s served. Salli has been here several Sundays and works closely with the Wednesday Bible Study.
We had 33 in attendance. We recognized Jennifer’s birthday. She was also the lector. Importantly she brought T.C. for his second visit of the year thought he reminded us this was the fourth time he was in a church this week.
Woody and Cherry are celebrating their 59th anniversary this week. Ron had a mental slip when he couldn’t remember the number of years he had been married (47). He did recover graciously helped by Cherry’s kiss.
Ron recommended reading Meghan Cotter’s column this Saturday in the Free Lance Star about the events in Charlottesville. "I suggest, therefore, that anyone raising a flag of hate, a torch of supremacy or a word of racism in name of Jesus must be reading a different book, or they are simply are not in church to begin with." She challenges all of us – "What will we say each and every day that makes the kingdom of God something more available here on earth? How will we carry ourselves, in the face of the violence that surrounds us? If marginalization, hate and oppression is not the world we envision for ourselves and our neighbor, what counter narrative are we prepared to write with the hands, feet and hearts that God has given us?"
Today’s readings call our attention to God’s all-inclusive mercy to many that were seemingly outsiders. Isaiah affirms that God welcomes all who choose to follow the Lord. Paul reminds the Roman community that the hopelessness of our disobedience lets God have mercy on us all. In the gospel, a bold Canaanite woman earns Jesus’ approval by clinging to his mercy.
In her sermon,Salli cited the Prayer of Humbel Access from Rite I (“We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table.” Page 337. Jesus invites us to the table to participate fully no matter our situation since God is merciful.
The portion of the Gospel that she considered was the story of the Canaanite Woman, Chapter 15, 21-28.
She recounted the setting for this story. In Matthew chapter 14 and 15 it was obvious Jesus needed some free time. Times were stressful. In Chapter 14, John was beheaded. When Jesus withdrew, the crowds followed him and he fed the 5,000. Then he resumed prayers and sent the disciples away on the Sea of Galilee. A storm ended his effort to have quiet time.
Jesus encountered the Canaanite woman in Tyre after still another incident- dealing with the Pharisees on ritual practices. Tyre was not Jewish and another country from Isreal. The Canaanite woman approaches, interupts Jesus activities insce she wants a healing for her daughter. The disciples urged him to send her away either after giving her what she she wants or simply because Jesus was weary. Although foreign and a gentile, she recognized him from what he was and that he possibly could have sympathy for a child.
On the face of it on first glance this is a troubling scripture. In fact, this is the only time in all the gospels when Jesus seemingly ignored someone’s cry. Then he claimed this woman was outside the scope of his concern. Finally, this woman is asking for a place at the table, but Jesus, chillingly, relegates her to the floor of life.
He did seem curt, ignoring her twice, saying his mission was to help the Jews and then uttering the comment about not fair to give food for the children to the dogs. Only after her persistence does he converse with her. She seems to have more faith than the disciples in the boat! How is it possible that this woman has more insight into Jesus’ identity than his disciples?
Jesus seems human like us in this scripture, caught up in the events of life – his needs. It is easy to ignore the events of the world as symbolized by this woman. It is easy to ignore the stranger. But Jesus eventually sees this as an opportunity, is impressed with her faith, persistence and wants to help those born without privilege. He heals the daughter.
The message is that all are worthy to come to the table no matter their nationality of status in life. The story reminds us that God is constantly entering new territory and breaking boundaries.