Jesus has just ticked of the establishment figures - the Pharisees - they've come to him and had a pop over ritual cleansing - washing hands and stuff and he's hit back about them being ritually clean but fetid before the God they claim to be serving. Having done this he calls the crowd to gather round and delivers the last kick of the game by telling them:
'Listen, you're not what you eat - you are what people see and hear. It's not about what goes into your mouth that does the damage - it's what comes out that does that!'
I have noticed an increasing trend amongst some Christians to utter expletives and engage in conversations, tell jokes and generally act in ways that would, when I was a baby Christian, have brought forth the 'sinful' label. I meet even encounter clergy who do it because it's down with the kids and finds favour with the people outside the church doors (although it doesn't for even though they smile and laugh they expect 'different' from Christians).
Jesus responds to the report that He's offended the Pharisees by explaining how those who are not Gods (even though they do the religion bit) will be pulled up and tossed on the heap - now that's not going to be popular with some, is it? He continues to point out that if you have 'the blind leading the blind' they will both find themselves in a pit together - the news this week featured a one-armed pilot, which is positive and good, but I don't know many who would be happy if the pilot was blind! So how can those who set themselves up to be leaders have anything but a clear vision of God and His word and the ways to live according to them through Jesus and the inspiration of God's Holy Spirit? How can we hope to steer even the ship of our own life if we give ourselves over to be governed by sinful thoughts, actions and speech?
So a word of warning from an old song:
be careful little eyes what you see,
be careful little hands what you do,
be careful little lips what you say.
The Gospel also tells us that no one is outside of God's love and mercy as a Canaanite (the lowest of the low) woman finds Jesus healing her daughter even though His ministry is, at that time, for the Jews. The woman tells Jesus, 'Even the dogs (gentiles, that is non-Jews) can eat the crumbs from their master's table,' and this understanding that God's grace is for all - near and far, Jew and Gentile is the key to the realised hope we find in Jesus, the Christ.
The Old Testament is cool too as we reach the climax of the Joseph story and the fulfilment of the dreams Joseph had - may this be our experience too - may our dreams be met and the work of those who oppose us be brought to naught.
So no matter where we find ourselves this morning - near or far, saved of far off, saint or sinner (and I know which I am) - the grace of God is but a fingertip, a prayer, away.
Father, I thank you that today I know I am wrong,
I say the wrong stuff, do the wrong stuff and am far off.
And yet you do not deny me, you do not leave me unloved.
Take all I am and use it,
Take all my needs and heal them,
Mend this broken world and bring your healing and your peace. Amen.
Matthew 15.10-28
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.’
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.
The Collect
Gracious Father, revive your Church in our day,
and make her holy, strong and faithful,
for your glory’s sake in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Genesis 45.1-15
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, ‘Send everyone away from me.’ So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.” And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am honoured in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.’ Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
Behold how good and pleasant it is to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, even on Aaron’s beard, running down upon the collar of his clothing. It is like the dew of Hermon running down upon the hills of Zion, For there the Lord has promised his blessing: even life for evermore.
Romans 11.1-2a, 29-32
I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
Post Communion
Holy Father,
who gathered us here around the table of your Son
to share this meal with the whole household of God:
in that new world where you reveal the fullness of your peace,
gather people of every race and language
to share in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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