A crumby story

from my message on Aug. 17, 2014, from Mt. 15:21-28

What a crumby story!  It's so crumby, it must be true.

First, it must be true, because everybody needs a vacation, even Jesus.  Here, Jesus has left Israel and gone to the coastal region.  The religious leaders have been plotting against him.  He needs to get away.

I am just back from vacation.  Just one quick story from northern Michigan, from Sleeping Bear Dune National Park.  I hiked up this huge sand dune.  You think we have sand dunes on the Texas coast.  This sand dune was on steroids.  I got to the top of the dune....and there was another one.  I climbed it...and there was another one.  It took me 4 dunes to get to the top where I could see Lake Michigan way off over there.  At the top, as I was catching my breath, a father and young son came panting up.  The little boy said, "Dad, now can we call the helicopter?"

On my way down, it was fun.  I could run.  A young couple was struggling to climb up.  Every few steps, the girl said, "My calves hurt...my calves hurt."  The boy said, "Yeah, well my ears hurt from you saying that your calves hurt."

Did you get a vacation this summer?  Where did you go?

Jesus shows his human side.  He tries to get away.  He doesn't want to be bothered, especially by the squawking of this woman.  The Greek word used to describe her crying out is that of a raven screeching.  "Help me, Help me," she squawks.  The disciples are like Jesus' posse.  They run interference for Jesus.  Not another demand upon the Master.  Let him rest.

Is worship time like a vacation for you?  Is it rest?  Sabbath?  Don't we need a break, an escape from the news cycle of awfulness?   Just for an hour can we not hear about Israel fighting Gaza, or Ebola, or Russia and Ukraine? No squawking for help. the world is a crumby place sometime.

On vacation, I actually got to worship. Oh, I'm in worship a lot and leading worship a lot, but rarely do I get to worship.  Cathy and I worshiped at Rancho de Taos Presbyterian Church in New Mexico.  They a wonderful little congregation. There were 34 in worship; I know because I am a preacher, and I counted.  When we sang the songs, I could barely choke the words out.  I was in the presence of holiness.  It is what I needed.  We sat on the back, right hand side.  They had the sacrament of communion.  I went forward. The server placed a tiny piece of bread in my hands, a crumb.  It was enough.  It was just what I needed.  Life can be crumby sometimes.  We need a vacation, sabbath.

Second, the story must be true, because I wouldn't have included it in the Bible.  If I were the editor, and I saw this story, I would have written "dele" for delete by it.  Jesus doesn't come across very well in this story. He seems to have all of the cultural and religions biases of his day.  Jesus is laser focused on his mission.  He says, I was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  He is quoting Isaiah.  He says to the woman, It is not right to take the children's food and give it to the dogs.  What is he calling her?  A Dog!  Yes, she is a woman, a foreigner, not a Jew, but a dog?!

The story must be true because the woman is laser focused on helping her child.  What would you do for your child?  The woman begs, sacrifices.  You do too.  I know what you do for your children.  You take them in carpools all over the place to all kinds of activities.  You put aside money for college.  One family in this church has a parent who has given a kidney for the child.  What you do?  If you were a mother in Central America, what would you do?  Would you put your child on a train to the US?  This mother risks embarrassment.  She will cross any barrier to get help for her child.

She has a snappy comeback.  Even the dogs get to eat the crumbs from the master's table.  She would be satisfied with just a crumb from Jesus.  That's all she needs.  Are you the parent in this story?  Are you the child?

Third, this story must be true, because Jesus answers her plea.  We are in relationship with God through Jesus.  Our prayers count.  We matter to Jesus.  The universe is not fated.

Abraham bargains with God over the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  If I find 50 righteous persons, would you still destroy the whole city?  45?  40?  Look it up in Genesis.  We can wrestle with God. God can change God's mind.

Then there's Moses up on the mountain with God.  God is going to destroy the Hebrews because they have made a golden calf.  Moses says, Whoa, there God.  Is that what you really want to do?  Look it up in Exodus.  Moses talks God out of that reaction.

Our prayers count.  Especially those prayers that lead to inclusion, to community.  I think this crumby story got included in the Bible because it illustrates that Jesus really wants to include all kinds of people, even foreign women whose daughters are demon possessed.  He praises her as having "great" faith, the only time he uses that adjective with faith.  Peter, his trusted disciple has been called a "little" faith.

The story has been included because even those persons we may consider crumby are loved by God.  I hope you find your place in this crumby story.