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Sunday, August 17, 2008

August 17, Father Nissen's message

Today's Gospel reading is Matthew 15, verses 21 through 28:

Jesus then withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from those parts came to met him crying, 'Son of David! have pit on me; my daughter is tormented by a devil.' But he said not a word in reply. His disciples came and urged him: ' Send her away! See how she comes shouting after us.' Jesus replied, 'I was sent to the house of Israel, and to them alone.' But the woman came and fell at his feet and cried, 'Help me, sir.' Jesus replied 'It is not right to take the children's bread and thrown it to the dogs.' 'True, sir,' she answered, 'and yet the dogs eat the scraps that fall from their master's table.' hearing this Jesus replied, 'What faith you have! Let it be as you wish!' And from that moment her daughter was restored to health.


This is the story of Jesus talking to a woman who was a foreigner. In those days people lived segregated lives, and because of Jewish ceremonial laws about purity a traditional Jewish man would not talk to this foreign woman.

Yet Jesus engaged her in a God-centered debate. He daughter was sick, but she had faith that Jesus was able to heal her daughter.

This teaching reminds of two things. First, we must always remember that walls between people can and must be taken down. Second, when these walls are taken down, healing can happen.

This focus can begin to happen in our lives as we talk and share in church services and especially outside of the services.

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