Humble, Persistent, and Bold

Charlotte Collins Reed
Christ Episcopal Church
August 17, 2014

15 Proper A

Some years ago, I ran into a former grade school teacher of one of our sons.  We were both at a reception following a funeral when we had one of those "Don't I know you from somewhere" moments.  About 15 years had elapsed since this teacher had taught our son, but during the year that our son was in her classroom, the teacher and I had an unfortunate disagreement over the way a particular situation had been handled.  If the teacher had 30 students a year, and 15 years had passed since we last encountered each other, then some 450 students and no doubt several disagreeable parents had passed through her classroom since we last met.  So, hopefully the teacher had forgotten our unpleasant encounter.  However, word to the wise-if you don't want your children's teachers to remember them, do not give them names like Slocomb and Caldwell!  And indeed, 15 years later, the teacher did remember our son.  Whether or not she remembered our disagreement, I will never know because if she did, she was gracious enough not to mention it.  Nonetheless, I felt a bit awkward to say the least.

Awkward probably does not begin to describe what Joseph's brothers are feeling this morning when they find out that the powerful ruler standing before them is actually the brother they sold into slavery.  While selling one's brother into slavery is not to be commended, little brother Joseph was a bit of a brat and a tattle tale, and was adored by his father.  Now, many years have passed and a famine has come upon the land.  Because Joseph had understood one of Pharaoh's dreams to mean that there would be seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine, Egypt had planned for the famine.  During the 7 plenteous years, one-fifth of the harvest was put in reserve for the famine to come.  When the famine arrived, Egypt was ready.  Not only that, but the Pharaoh had made Joseph ruler over Egypt.  When we catch up with Joseph and his brothers this morning, Joseph's brothers stand before him, unaware of his identity, in dire need of food to purchase and take home to their father and families.  While Joseph looks like the model of forgiveness and reconciliation in our lovely but somewhat gushy reading this morning, what the lectionary leaves out is the way Joseph treated his brothers the previous time they came for food.  The first time they came, Joseph, who is now in a position of great power, accuses his brothers of spying and has them thrown in jail for three days. Joseph holds his brother Simeon captive while the other brothers return home to their father and instructs his brothers to return with Benjamin, the beloved son since Joseph's disappearance.  Joseph has the money his brothers paid for the grain put back in their bags before they leave for home, and when they find it, they are terrified that they will be accused of stealing.  Joseph is in a position of great power which he does not mind abusing, and his brothers have no clue who he is. When Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers this morning, they are understandably mortified.  But Joseph explains that God has worked through their misdeeds so that now their family can be kept alive. And manipulative, bratty, tattletale Joseph demonstrates the mercy of God to his brothers.

Jesus is not at his best this morning, either.  Jesus is flat out rude to the woman seeking help for her daughter, not to mention arrogant and prejudiced.  The Canaanite woman cries out to him "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon."  She clearly recognizes Jesus' great power, a power that can cure her daughter.  But in response to the woman's plea, Jesus completely ignores her.  When the disciples encourage Jesus to send her away so she will quit shouting at them, Jesus says "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  In Matthew's gospel, Jesus clearly understands his ministry as first to the house of Israel.  Only after the resurrection do we hear Jesus send the disciples out to make disciples of all nations.  The Canaanite woman is not of the house of Israel.  She is one of "them" and not one of "us," so she is not worthy of Jesus' attention.  This is not the Jesus we know, who's work we try to do, the Jesus who feeds the hungry and heals the sick, casts out demons, and works for justice and mercy for the poor and marginalized.

At the end of the story, Jesus says to the Canaanite woman, the very woman to whom he had just been so very rude, "Woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish."  Last week, we heard Jesus say to Peter, his own disciple, "Oh you of little faith.  Why did you doubt?"  Whatever Jesus' problem with the Canaanite woman might be, in the end, she is held up for us as a model of great faith, while Peter is left as a person of little faith.  So, perhaps it would behoove us to forget about Jesus' behavior for a moment and focus on the faith of the Canaanite woman.  What about her faith is commendable?

First, unlike Peter, who last week essentially said to Jesus "IF you are the Son of God, command me to walk out to you on the water," the Canaanite woman says "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon."  The Canaanite woman, a  pagan and not a Jew, living in Gentile territory, recognizes Jesus and calls him by a title that is surprising.  How does she know Jesus is the Lord, the Son of David?  However, she came to have this knowledge, she is led to ask Jesus for mercy, for the unearned favor of God.  She recognizes Jesus' power and is humble before that power.

Secondly, her faith is persistent.  When the disciples want Jesus to send the woman away, she keeps shouting.  When Jesus makes the claim that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, she doesn't take "no" for an answer.  Her faith leads her to kneel before Jesus and say "Lord, help me."  Her faith is humble, but it is also persistent.  She keep after Jesus until he gives her the response she needs; she doesn't just give up and go away when Jesus ignores her.

Thirdly, her faith is bold.  When Jesus seems to be just flat out rude and says "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs," she is undaunted and dares to come back at Jesus with "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  She is willing to argue with Jesus.  Her bold reply leads Jesus to respond "Woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish."  And her daughter was healed instantly.

While both Jesus and Joseph have power that they are not willing to use immediately to bring about healing and relief, the Canaanite woman and Joseph's brothers have a faith that is surprising.  Both are in great need, but know that they deserve nothing.  Both are persistent, coming back when either they need more food, or don't have the need for healing met immediately.  Both are bold.  Guts are required to return to the brother who has already accused you of spying and locked you in prison, and guts are required for anyone, much less a Canaanite, to approach the Son of David.  Perhaps the point of these stories is to hold up unlikely models of faith that call us to a faith that is humble, persistent, and bold.

  Amen.