Love That Says No; Faith That Says Yes

REMINISCERE

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

February 25, 2018

ST. MATTHEW 15:28

Love That Says No; Faith That Says Yes

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

How is any child able to accept “No” from their parent without anger or resentment?

Because they know that the “No” is for their own good. Now in practice we offer react to “No” with anger and resentment. When little ones comes to the dinner table, an often-repeated argument is who gets to sit next to whom. Any denial of placement can be met with howls of anger—because they think that no one loves them.

Jesus said “No” to a Canaanite mother three times in St. Matthew's chapter fifteen account:

1. He did not answer her a word.

2. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

3. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

She asked for help and He said no by ignoring her, by talking as though she wasn't there, and then by calling her a dog.

But she trusted Him. She expected good things from Him because she knew by faith that He loved her.

This mother was a Canaanite. This meant that she was not Jewish. She was descended from the heathen-majority nations that bordered the Holy Land. Just like many in our families today, her family probably contained idol-worshipers. So how this faithful woman came to faith is unknown, at least as far as the details. But somehow the Holy Spirit sent the words of Moses and Prophets to this woman and created in her saving trust in Christ.

Her faith agreed with God and so did her mouth, which confessed:

ST. MATTHEW 15:22 “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION

She called Him Lord, Son of David. She knew that this humble man who called Mary mother and Nazareth home, was really not from around here. He belonged at His Father's right hand.

But He had come down here, to the Earth, to keep His promise. This is the great joy here: Jesus loves to be trapped by His Word. The mother of this demon-oppressed daughter expected Jesus to give her a good word. When He says no to her, her God-given trust in His promise to give good things persists.

We, too, are wise to expect good things from our Lord Jesus. I suppose our trouble comes from confusion about those good things are. Like children we expect our way to be obtained and quickly.

For this mother, these perhaps 15 minutes were the longest of her life. And also the greatest 15 minutes of her earthly life.

For Jacob who wrestled with God 2,000 years before Jesus spoke with this mother, that night was perhaps the longest of his life.

For those with cancer and those who care about them, minutes is not in your vocabulary. Months and years are the reality. And for many of God's faithful people, years of treatment end without deliverance. But this view can only be confessed if you believe that earthly life is the best thing, the most important thing.

God grants life and health; He also might let us linger in the shadow of death. And what could be more of a NO than a death from cancer.

But by faith we with this kneeling mother and limping Jacob we hear God's “No” and cling to our trust that He will always give us what is best. And by the fact of your hearing God's Word gives evidence that you already have it: faith in Christ.

He is the best thing. And even though coming into contact with Him in His Word may humbled us, even like Jacob leave us with scars, we remain His dogs, His children, His brothers and sisters.

Only trust in Christ lets us hold Him to His promises. And He loves to caught by us as we hold onto His Word.

This is Remember Sunday (Latin: Reminiscere). The names comes from Psalm 25:

Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways.

And this good thing is done and accomplish according to our Lord's love. In His goodness He remembers us, His children. Come to His table and eat His bread that gives life and goodness.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thanks be to God!