7 June 2010
Psalm 56, 57; Eccles. 7:1-14; Gal. 4:12-20; Matt. 15:21-28

It is strange that Solomon has lamented the fact that people don’t enjoy what they have worked for and encourages enjoyment of labor and now turns and says that mourning is better than feasting. Simple Epicureanism and foolishness of heart are different from the enjoyment of life. A book was written about 20 years ago entitled Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business that challenged the culture created by television. The author, Neil Postman, argued that nothing was treated seriously any longer as it is all entertainment. In the intervening years, it can easily be established that the trend has only gotten worse. We live in an age when we as Christians need to re-establish seriousness as a virtue in some areas of life. It isn’t wrong to laugh but we need to re-examine when we should be more sober in our thinking and acting.

Jesus here initially treats this Canaanite woman as unworthy of his attention. Ken Bailey, a scholar who spent much of his life in the culture of the near East, says that in this encounter Jesus is putting his disciples to the test, challenging their attitudes towards “others.” Bailey’s premise is that Jesus’ dismissal of the woman and then the disciples request to help her is a sign of the prevailing sentiment to these others, Jesus is doing no more than mimicking Judaism. Finally, she gets in his path and stops him and even then Jesus speaks to her in such an offensive way as to shock even the disciples, calling her and her people “dogs.” Her perseverance and faith ultimately win His heart and He acts on her request. Bailey sees that in this scene Jewish prejudices are revealed and the Canaanite woman reveals true faith to these disciples. However we interpret Jesus’ actions and words, the faith of the woman is remarkable and her desire to see her child healed and delivered overcomes everything else. The Gentile woman has shown true faith.

Paul appeals to the Galatians to see the motives of those who would teach this other “gospel” that is not a Gospel at all. These others are attempting to exclude the Galatians from the church until they meet their requirements. By making much of them and then introducing the idea that there are further requirements, they are actually exalting themselves. How often do we do this same thing in the church by insisting that new people accept more than the Gospel to be part of the club? I don’t mean baptism or confirmation, I mean things that are particular to our denomination and we look down on people until they get the lingo or the gestures or understand how to use the Prayer Book. Paul is perplexed by their willingness to believe these things are necessary. We have to learn and continually remind ourselves what is of God and what is of man.

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
until the destroying storms pass by.
I cry to God Most High,
to God who fulfils his purpose for me.