-GospelMt 15: 21-28At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!My daughter is tormented by a demon."But he did not say a word in answer to her.His disciples came and asked him,"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."He said in reply,"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."But the woman came and did him homage, saying, "Lord, help me."He said in reply,"It is not right to take the food of the childrenand throw it to the dogs."She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scrapsthat fall from the table of their masters."Then Jesus said to her in reply,"O woman, great is your faith!Let it be done for you as you wish."And her daughter was healed from that hour.
the past two weeks i have been travelling and going to church events and have just been tired at night, esepcially of people. these past two days i have stayed to myself to regain my strength.
the reading for today is one of my favorites--Jesus tells the woman that his ministry is to the Jews, and she pushes him to see that his ministry is to all. in otherwords this woman's challenge results in Jesus expanding his ministry. she dares challenges this teacher.
people are often aghast when i challenge established ways and norms--but that is the only way things change is to push people. institutions become simply bastions of stagnation and survival rather than agents of change if they are not pushed.
i told someone last night that my call has intensified over the years, and she asked me what i mean. what i mean is that i am driven, just compelled to "preach the gospel in season and out of season." there is so much pain around me and all that makes sense is the One that calls me. As i approach ten years here i know that i have slowly surrended to the reality this is the life i was born to live, and in it I find God in Jesus day in and day out.
this person commented last night that i get moody etc. hell yea i get moody. i live here, i work here, and this is not a pretty world, and people are not pretty or easy to deal with. so hell yea i let my feelings show, and in so doing i believe i am more human and am showing people that in being real they can be real with me.
and so it goes--Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!
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