{"id":3466,"date":"2020-08-14T13:27:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-14T03:27:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3466"},"modified":"2020-08-14T13:27:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T03:27:09","slug":"sunday-sermon-16-08-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3466","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Sermon 16-08-2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Service and Sermon: August 16th<\/sup>, 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Leighmoor Uniting Church<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-Rev Barbara Allen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hymn Suggestions<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 156: Morning has broken<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 693: Come as you are<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 154: Great is your faithfulness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 232: O the deep, deep love of Jesus<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 690: Beauty for brokenness<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TIS 653: This is the day of new beginnings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amazing God,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You fill the skies with lights for the morning, and for the night time.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

You fill our lives with light: bright candles in the form of families, friends, and faith.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We thank you for the light of the world, your Son, Jesus Christ.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As light decreases the darkness around it, may your light lessen our anxieties.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We thank you for the gifts of simplicity. \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

During this time of covid 19 may we remember the lives you meant us to live, where we remember others, where we have time for you, where we are mindful of our many blessings.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We thank you for priceless, precious, eternal gifts of love, of compassion, of hope.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And yet, O God, we are a forgetful lot.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Help us to remember the bounty we have-rather than the things we do not have.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Help us to sit in quiet reflection, drawing on our memories of good times, rather than be stuck grumbling about what we cannot do at this time in history.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May we be reminded that prayer is action, and praying for someone, or for the community, or for the world-is an act of hope, an act of faith, an act of blessing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Forgive us when we think small-rather than when we are empowered by you, supported by your Spirit, to think BIG.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And in a time of silence we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(silence).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

God is love.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Through Christ our sins are forgiven.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

(thanks be to God).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life in the power of the Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bible Readings<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Genesis 45: 1-15<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Psalm 133<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew 15: 21-28<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sermon<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Crumbs.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Crummy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What does the word \u2018crummy\u2019 mean?\u00a0 <\/span>It originally meant something that was good.\u00a0 <\/span>It also meant \u2018plump\u2019-referring back to the soft or fleshy part of bread (as opposed to the crust).\u00a0 <\/span>Among soldiers, the word, instead of meaning something \u2018good\u2019 came to mean \u2018lousy\u2019, initially in the literal sense-infested with lice-hence our sense of \u2018crummy\u2019 to mean inferior, poor. The reference was to the eggs of a louse, which were like crumbs of bread.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So crumbs- are they good or bad? Plump or inferior? \u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Do the crumbs from your slice of bread or toast, get eaten, or are they rinsed from your plate?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps they get vacuumed up by your dog!\u00a0 <\/span>Our dog Harry nearly always gets a bit of the crust from a slice of toast, or a cut off wedge from a crumpet.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Vs 26: \u2018He answered, \u201cIt is not fair to take the children\u2019s food and throw it to the dogs.\u201d\u00a0 <\/span>She said, \u201cYes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master\u2019s table.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When today\u2019s reading from Matthew is set against its background, it becomes one of the most moving and extraordinary in the life of Jesus.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus has moved on- he is now in the region of Tyre, part of Syria which lay between Galilee and the sea coast.\u00a0 <\/span>Jesus is in Gentile territory.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Why?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This incident is wedged between two accounts of feeding-feeding the 5,000 (the lectionary reading 2 weeks ago), and the feeding of 4,000 (found at the end of this chapter). Bread.\u00a0 <\/span>Crumbs.\u00a0 <\/span>Lots of them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the episode before today\u2019s story, there\u2019s a dispute about what is clean and what is unclean-the debate with the Pharisees in regard to ritual cleansing<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-and then, this event, the movement into foreign territory, into Gentile land.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Why?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is an important move on the part of Jesus, for Jesus moves out of Galilee.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He was in danger:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

1. The Galilean\u2019s support for Jesus after the feeding of the 5,000 angered Herod Antipas and his supporters.\u00a0 <\/span>Herod was to be feared; he had already had John the Baptist killed, he wouldn\u2019t hesitate to kill again.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus was regarded as a threat, a menace.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. Some Jewish rulers were against him because of the dispute over \u2018uncleanliness\u2019.\u00a0 <\/span>He broke rules and regulations.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps some may have seen him as a threat to their influence.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The point is, Jesus went north for peace (many were following him due to his power, the miracles of healing, the miracles of feeding-his fame had spread)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Or to escape danger<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-or both<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For the next few months, Jesus and his twelve disciples travel to Gentile lands.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is when we are shown the first glimmerings of understanding of Jesus\u2019 true identity and mission: I\u2019ll come back to this later.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So here is Jesus, Jesus on the move, moving out of his native habitat Galilee into foreign territory.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

WE are on the fringe with Jesus<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is important to note that when the gospel writers use geography, they use the setting to tell us something about Jesus, or something about his mission.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And indeed, IS HE REALLY ENTERING FOREIGN TERRITORY?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Joshua 19: 29: \u2018the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-where is Jesus?\u00a0 <\/span>In the region of Tyre!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And to continue from Joshua: \u2018This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to their families-these towns and their villages.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps it was not a strange land into which Jesus came, it was land God had given them long ago.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But it is also worth noting, that maybe for that very reason, great bitterness had built up between the Jews and the Gentiles in this border region between Tyre and Galilee.\u00a0 <\/span>There was social and economic prejudice. It had been enemy territory since the time of Jezebel.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

So, Jesus goes north, for rest, or to escape, or maybe for both-<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But his fame has spread, he finds no rest.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He is sought be someone who needs him.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-he is sought be someone who needs him.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

[In Mark, he enters a house, and a woman approaches him, but in Matthew\u2019s account, she is outside]:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A Gentile woman comes out and starts shouting \u201cHave mercy on me, Lord, Son of David, my daughter is tormented by a demon.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus doesn\u2019t answer her; indeed, the disciples are embarrassed, they urge him to \u201cSend her away, for she keeps shouting after us.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But the woman continues: \u201cLord, help me.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLord, help me.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A Gentile woman approaches him, asking Jesus to heal her daughter.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The request of a desperate mother.\u00a0 <\/span>We understand her.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the second time in this Gospel that we hear that a Gentile has requested healing.\u00a0 <\/span>The first was in Chapter Eight, when a centurion approaches Jesus and asks him to heal his servant. And now- well, there is an element of suspense here. Remember-this is enemy territory.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 reply is shocking:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not fair to take the children\u2019s food and throw it to the dogs.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Does Jesus insult her?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Does he say \u201cit is my people, the children, who need me, who need to be fed.\u00a0 <\/span>It is not fair to throw their food away to outsiders, to enemies, to those who are less deserving.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is even more shocking in Matthew\u2019s account; in Mark, he says \u201cLet the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children\u2019s food and throw it to the dogs.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Here in Matthew it is not \u2018to the children first\u2019 but \u2018It is not fair to take the children\u2019s food\u2019!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Does Jesus say that his people, the Jews, are to be fed-given the bread of heaven?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

How does this fit in with our image of Jesus?\u00a0 <\/span>Do we struggle with this, feeling that this woman was hard done by?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In those times, dogs were not the well loved guardians that they are today in Western society.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To be called \u2018a dog\u2019 was a name of dishonor.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For the Greeks, DOG meant a shameless and audacious woman.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A female dog.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For the Jews, it was equally a term of contempt.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Philippians 3:2: \u2018Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rev 22:15: \u2018Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-not exactly a compliment!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Goliath taunts David: \u201cAm I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In Isaiah 56, the word is used to describe Gentiles:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018The dogs have a mighty appetite, they never have enough.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

And yet\u2026and yet\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus did not use the usual word for dog, the word which described the wild dogs of the street.\u00a0 <\/span>The word he used meant the little pet lap dogs of the house.\u00a0 <\/span>So Jesus took the sting out of the word.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Also, dogs teach us about the God-given gifts of unconditional love, forgiveness, loyalty, devotion and joy.\u00a0 <\/span>Dogs are mentioned 32 times in Scripture.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In my book I was there<\/i>, a picture book about a dog following Jesus, and being present at many scenes in Jesus\u2019 earthly life, (but not at this one!)I wrote:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Many have observed that \u2018dog\u2019 is \u2018God\u2019 spelt backwards; perhaps if we are willing to learn from our animals, we will gain insight into how much God loves each one of us (and how excited God is when we greet God in prayer).\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes, we could assume that being called \u2018dog\u2019 is a compliment rather than an insult!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus did not shut the door; he said \u201cLet it be done for you as you wish.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Israel had the first offer of the gospel, then the others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But what does this Gentile woman do?\u00a0 <\/span>She has a faith that would not take \u201cno\u201d for an answer.\u00a0 <\/span>She knows that Jesus\u2019 message is too important to confine to only one particular group of people. The whole world needs to benefit from God\u2019s redeeming word.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She approaches Jesus, replies to Jesus, insists that an outcast must benefit from the master\u2019s graciousness.\u00a0 <\/span>She is open to receive whatever is granted.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She said: \u201cYes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master\u2019s table.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Crumbs-the good or the inferior?\u00a0 <\/span>These crumbs, whatever Jesus can spare-are good, because they are divine leftovers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In those days, there were no knives or forks, or serviettes, people ate with their hands and wiped their soiled hands on chunks of bread and then they would fling the bread away and the house dogs would eat it.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-layers and layers of meaning in this story<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-this woman would not take \u201cno\u201d for an answer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-this woman dares to expect God\u2019s gift in Jesus<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-this story starts breaking down ancient barriers<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-this Gentile woman had an understanding of who he was.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-she addresses him as \u201cLord, Son of David\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-she is one of the first Gentiles to turn to Jesus<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If we use the symbol of the \u2018dog\u2019- this woman is as devoted and as faithful as a good dog.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus sees her great faith, and acts accordingly.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is a miracle story, but neither the miracle itself nor its effect is dwelt upon- (\u2018And her daughter was healed instantly\u2019).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This story highlights another miracle – God\u2019s salvation for both Jew and Gentile.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Later in Matthew, in Chapter 24: 14, this universal approach is emphasized:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u2018This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s love stretches beyond our personal, familiar, and ethnic boundaries, as our love should.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As a good dog\u2019s love does.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the way God loves: without favouritism, without partiality, with concern for all creation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This Gentile woman\u2019s encounter with Jesus opens us to a deeper awareness and recognition of Jesus\u2019 mission, as well as an understanding of Jesus\u2019 true identity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Gentile woman understood who he was-in stark contrast to the growing dullness of the twelve disciples.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the next chapter, Jesus says to them: \u201cYou of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive?\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is ironic that, while others, such as the Gentile woman, were gaining a deeper awareness of who Jesus is, the twelve disciples, and others, were unable to fathom who Jesus is.\u00a0 <\/span>The next story, about Jesus healing the blind, the mute, is, apart from the healing, an opportunity to point out the \u2018blindness\u2019 and \u2018muteness\u2019 of the Twelve.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-those unable to see what is in front of them.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-those unable to speak, or perhaps praise.\u00a0 <\/span>Remember, the Gentile woman shouted \u201cHave mercy on me, Lord, Son of David\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus was on the move, moving out of Galilee, into foreign territory.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

How did we get here?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Why are you reading this sermon?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Why are you part of the church family?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What journey brought you here?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Was it recent?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Was it long ago, somewhere in our past, perhaps we were brought to church, resting on our grandmother\u2019s knees, or curled up in our mother\u2019s arms.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There is a place for each one of us here.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

But remember,\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

when you follow Jesus, be ready for surprises, unexpected circumstances, meeting people you didn\u2019t expect to meet.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Be ready to enter foreign territory.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus ventured into new territory.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Are we prepared to do the same?\u00a0 <\/span>In faith?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Like the Gentile woman, are we desperate enough?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Will we not let go?\u00a0 <\/span>Shall we shout it out?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We may not have a sick daughter, like the Gentile woman-the person may be ourselves.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 final words to her are magnificent: \u201cWoman, great is your faith.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Great is your faith.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The dog reference, from Isaiah is apt here: \u2018The dogs have a mighty appetite, they never have enough.\u2019\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hunger for Jesus, hunger for faith.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Last week, Jesus chided Peter, with \u201cYou of little faith\u201d now \u201cWoman, great is your faith.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

When we follow Jesus, we follow in faith.\u00a0 <\/span>Our geography is not closed, or limited, but open.\u00a0 <\/span>It is the opposite of being in lockdown!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Our future is not clearly mapped out; there are detours along the way,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

BUT<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, our guide, our Saviour, our Lord and our friend, is waiting, alongside us, with out-stretched hands.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

-take a step; he will catch us if (or perhaps when) we stumble.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We are of gentile stock.\u00a0 <\/span>Let us give thanks to God for the persistent Gentile woman, who argued our case for inclusion!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Prayers of the People<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

O caring and compassionate Lord,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Remind us that you are in the midst of the world\u2019s struggles.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We continue to pray for victims of the pandemic;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For those in aged care, for their families and friends.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For hospital staff, health workers, carers, police, the defence forces, and politicians.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For all who are trying to either find a cure, or help heal, or comfort.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We pray for those whose jobs or businesses are severely affected.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We pray for children everywhere-whether at home, being home-schooled, at school because they are classed as vulnerable, or in a country where they are receiving little nourishment.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We continue to pray for the citizens of Beirut.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We pray for those affected by covid 19 in other ways.\u00a0 <\/span>Those unable to marry because of restrictions, those unable to celebrate significant anniversaries or birthdays with friends and families.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Help us to accept these restrictions, because by observing the boundaries of lockdown we are doing our bit for the health and safety of others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Help us to continue in the hopeful and loving words of our daily prayer time.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

We pray for successful diplomatic negotiations in the Middle East.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In the words our Saviour taught us we are confident when we pray to say:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Our Father\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Blessing\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

May the Father\u2019s hand<\/strong><\/span>
\nkeep you from stumbling,<\/strong><\/span>
\nthe footprints of Jesus<\/strong><\/span>
\ngive you confidence to follow,<\/strong><\/span>
\nand the fire of the Spirit <\/strong><\/span>
\nkeep you warm and safe<\/strong><\/span>
\nin your walk with God this day.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Leighmoor UC\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

16th<\/sup> August 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Rev Barbara Allen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Service and Sermon: August 16th, 2020 Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Hymn Suggestions TIS 156: Morning has broken TIS 693: Come as you are TIS 154: Great is your faithfulness TIS 232: O the deep, deep love of Jesus TIS 690: Beauty for brokenness TIS 653: This is the day of new beginnings Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession Amazing God, You fill the skies with lights for the morning, and for the night time. You fill our lives with light: bright candles in the form of families, friends, and faith. We thank you for the light of the world, your Son, Jesus Christ. As light decreases the darkness around it, may your light lessen our anxieties. We thank you for the gifts of simplicity. \u00a0 During this time of covid 19 may we remember the lives you meant us to live, where we remember others, where we have time for you, where we are mindful of our many blessings. We thank you for priceless, precious, eternal gifts of love, of compassion, of hope. And yet, O God, we are a forgetful lot. Help us to remember the bounty we have-rather than the things we do not have. Help us to sit in quiet reflection, drawing on our memories of good times, rather than be stuck grumbling about what we cannot do at this time in history. May we be reminded that prayer is action, and praying for someone, or for the community, or for the world-is an act of hope, an act of faith, an act of blessing. Forgive us when we think small-rather than when we are empowered by you, supported by your Spirit, to think BIG. And in a time of silence we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. (silence). God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven. (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life in the power of the Spirit. Amen Bible Readings Genesis 45: 1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: 21-28 Sermon Crumbs. Crummy. What does the word \u2018crummy\u2019 mean?\u00a0 It originally meant something that was good.\u00a0 It also meant \u2018plump\u2019-referring back to the soft or fleshy part of bread (as opposed to the crust).\u00a0 Among soldiers, the word, instead of meaning something \u2018good\u2019 came to mean \u2018lousy\u2019, initially in the literal sense-infested with lice-hence our sense of \u2018crummy\u2019 to mean inferior, poor. The reference was to the eggs of a louse, which were like crumbs of bread.\u00a0 So crumbs- are they good or bad? Plump or inferior? \u00a0 Do the crumbs from your slice of bread or toast, get eaten, or are they rinsed from your plate? Perhaps they get vacuumed up by your dog!\u00a0 Our dog Harry nearly always gets a bit of the crust from a slice of toast, or a cut off wedge from a crumpet. Vs 26: \u2018He answered, \u201cIt is not fair to take the children\u2019s food and throw it to the dogs.\u201d\u00a0 She said, \u201cYes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master\u2019s table.\u201d When today\u2019s reading from Matthew is set against its background, it becomes one of the most moving and extraordinary in the life of Jesus. Jesus has moved on- he is now in the region of Tyre, part of Syria which lay between Galilee and the sea coast.\u00a0 Jesus is in Gentile territory. Why? This incident is wedged between two accounts of feeding-feeding the 5,000 (the lectionary reading 2 weeks ago), and the feeding of 4,000 (found at the end of this chapter). Bread.\u00a0 Crumbs.\u00a0 Lots of them. In the episode before today\u2019s story, there\u2019s a dispute about what is clean and what is unclean-the debate with the Pharisees in regard to ritual cleansing -and then, this event, the movement into foreign territory, into Gentile land. Why? This is an important move on the part of Jesus, for Jesus moves out of Galilee. He was in danger: 1. The Galilean\u2019s support for Jesus after the feeding of the 5,000 angered Herod Antipas and his supporters.\u00a0 Herod was to be feared; he had already had John the Baptist killed, he wouldn\u2019t hesitate to kill again. Jesus was regarded as a threat, a menace. 2. Some Jewish rulers were against him because of the dispute over \u2018uncleanliness\u2019.\u00a0 He broke rules and regulations.\u00a0 Perhaps some may have seen him as a threat to their influence. The point is, Jesus went north for peace (many were following him due to his power, the miracles of healing, the miracles of feeding-his fame had spread) Or to escape danger -or both For the next few months, Jesus and his twelve disciples travel to Gentile lands. This is when we are shown the first glimmerings of understanding of Jesus\u2019 true identity and mission: I\u2019ll come back to this later. So here is Jesus, Jesus on the move, moving out of his native habitat Galilee into foreign territory. WE are on the fringe with Jesus It is important to note that when the gospel writers use geography, they use the setting to tell us something about Jesus, or something about his mission. And indeed, IS HE REALLY ENTERING FOREIGN TERRITORY? Joshua 19: 29: \u2018the boundary turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre.\u2019 -where is Jesus?\u00a0 In the region of Tyre! And to continue from Joshua: \u2018This is the inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to their families-these towns and their villages.\u2019 Perhaps it was not a strange land into which Jesus came, it was land God had given them long ago. But it is also worth noting, that maybe for that very reason, great bitterness had built up between the Jews and the Gentiles in this border region between Tyre and Galilee.\u00a0 There was social and economic prejudice. It had been enemy territory since the time of Jezebel. So, Jesus goes north, for rest, or to escape, or maybe for both- But his fame has spread, he finds no rest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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Prayers…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3466","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3466"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3466\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3467,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3466\/revisions\/3467"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3466"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3466"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3466"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}