Dogs, Children, and the Master Who Hears
Grace to you and
peace from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
This morning we prayed, “Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your
lovingkindnesses.” It might seem at times as if our Lord has forgotten us
in the midst of our trials. We certainly believe Him capable of such
forgetfulness. “Where is God in my trouble?” “Does He not see me in my pain?”
“Does He not hear my prayers?” It’s odd that we ask God to remember us when we
are the ones who forget. That awful trait belongs solely to us. When
times are good, we think that it all comes from our own effort. When times
are tough, we blame God for our troubles. Our sinful flesh is so focused
on itself that it constantly forgets its Lord and Master.
And the devil
certainly doesn’t help. The evil one is always trying to implant in us a gut-clenching
doubt and a trembling fear. “Why would God listen to you?” he says. “You
are no Christian! Your faith is miserable and weak! You have to be worthy before
God will help you. Why do you bother Him with your prayers? Can’t you see
that you are not worthy of His attention?” The devil afflicts us constantly
with this stuff.
The Canaanite
woman’s daughter was plagued by the devil. The woman comes to Jesus for
help. She had heard of Him and has come to believe that He is the
Messiah. She cries out, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” She acknowledges
that Jesus is true God, the Messiah promised of old. Yet, she is a Gentile,
not part of the ancient people of God, not included in the old covenant. Still,
she pleads, “Have mercy on me!” But our Lord seems to ignore her. He
answers her not a word. This woman is shameless. She cries out loud in
public, “Lord, help me!” She falls down at His feet and clings to Him. She
worships her God and pleads with Him, “Lord, help me!”
The Lord finally
speaks to her: “It is not good to take
the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.” The banquet is
not meant for you. You are a dog not fit for the banquet. It sounds like a
refusal, but the woman hears an opening. “I know the banquet is meant for the
father and his children. Even so, my Lord and my God, even your dogs are fed
with the scraps!” That little bit will be enough. What a great and
tenacious faith is displayed here! The woman clings to Christ when all
seems dark and a failure. She has only a Word to cling to: Jesus helps
sinners. So she persists in her prayer though the devil is shouting in her ear,
“You’re not worthy!”
My brothers and
sisters in Christ, faith does not cling to the things perceived by the
senses. Faith has only the Word, the promises of God. Faith
clings to the promise of mercy even when the senses lose hope. As it was
with this woman, so it is with you. We are Gentiles and sinners, not
worthy for the things for which we ask. We pray, and the answer seems to be a
refusal. His deliverance seems to us to be slow. He does not act when
we think He should act. Rather, He acts when it is it is good for us.
Gentiles,
sinners that we are, we are the baptized child of God. We are no longer merely
dogs, waiting for a scrap. We are the true children of Israel. We are
children of God who bear the name of our Father upon our foreheads. He has
brought us to His table to eat and drink. He has placed us at His right
hand where He hears and answers our prayers. We are true children of Israel, walking
by faith and not by sight. The Lord always hears, and the Lord
always—always—answers. Our Lord tells us, “Most
assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give
you.” He is faithful and true to His Word. And if the world considers us to
be dogs, then so be it, for our faithful Master will always take care of us. In
the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God
which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus
always. Amen.
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