Worship for the week beginning 7 August 2022

Time to Reflect

Today’s Gospel reading is a tough one. The way Jesus treats the woman in this story seems most uncharacteristic, and really quite rude. She is a Gentile, and at first, Jesus refers to her as a dog!

There are a number of different ways to interpret this response. Some feel that Jesus was testing her to see whether she had the faith to stick to her guns. Some feel that Jesus was pretending to treat her badly to highlight the racism of his own people. Others believe that Jesus had a transforming moment where this woman made him realise that his mission was not just for the Jews.

Whatever we may believe about this encounter, what becomes clear is that Jesus finally welcomes this poor, Gentile woman and heals her daughter.

What does it mean to make room for those who are not like us? The call to make room for the stranger is not new. The OT makes it clear in Leviticus 19: 9-10. And in the Book of Ruth, this is carried out in practice by Boaz, ending in a Romantic encounter.

It is worth spending a bit of time considering how we as individuals and churches react to strangers. Churches tend to attract people like themselves. During the 1990’s there was a major emphasis on cell church: Paul Yonggi Cho spoke about inviting people with the same interests, who think like you into small groups. I have always been very uncomfortable with that. I am always confronted with the question: What makes it difficult to make room for people who are not like us? Mother Theresa said that she saw Christ in each person she met and worked with.

The problem with us is that we always include some and exclude others. Mr. Brown sees Paddington on the station platform (and because he looks different), he warns his family: “Ooh, stranger danger. Keep your eyes down. – there is some sort of bear over there!” Then he makes a generalisation: “He is probably selling something!” They then walk past him. He feels rejected and then starts self-blaming: “I must be doing something wrong,” he says. ~

It is Mrs. Brown who then starts engaging with Paddington and eventually offers him assistance.

This brings me to Jesus and the Gentile woman: it is when this lady engages Jesus (there is a conversation between them), that Jesus is convinced and greater understanding comes. In fact, Jesus teaches us how to lose an argument. When he realises that the woman’s argument is stronger than his own, he grants her petition.

Jesus seems to be prepared to change his mind in our gospel reading today. Do you view changing one’s mind as a sign of weakness or of strength?

After his encounter here, he then returns to a Jewish region and heals a deaf-mute man. It seems pretty clear that the Gospel writer wants us to recognise that Jesus was radically inclusive in his ministry.

This teaches me that one of the most powerful things we can do in our world is to talk to others (who seem different from us and who hold different convictions than us). In so doing we can learn from each other and become radically inclusive like Jesus.

You too have welcomed us as a family here in Northampton. And we have shaped each other through our interactions and conversations. As I leave you, I appeal to you to continue to welcome others into the church family. I leave you with a question: Who do you need to welcome and include today?

Friends, being inclusive doesn’t mean that we have to be close friends with everyone – that just isn’t humanly possible. But, if we treat everyone we meet with kindness and respect, and take time to recognise their basic humanity, we are living as welcoming, inclusive Christ-followers. Try it today.