Reflection based on Matthew 15:21-28 – ‘The faith of the Canaanite Woman’: by Kathy R
This week I have been searching the internet for some meaningful words of encouragement to say to someone who is burying the ashes of their beloved husband. I came across one piece entitled ‘This Life Mattered’. It brought to mind the Christian Aid slogan ‘We believe in life before death.’
We have become very familiar with the movement ‘Black Lives Matter’, which of course they do, as does everyone’s. Those working in the Early Years and Childcare sector are familiar with and implement the document ‘Every Child Matters’ with its five outcomes for children – be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution, achieve economic well-being – outcomes that we would wish for all. But these sentiments are meaningless unless we show by our actions and our attitudes, as individuals, as communities, as societies, as nations, as members of a global family, that indeed all lives matter.
It seems to me that the Canaanite woman in the gospel story is saying in so many words that her life, her daughter’s life and that of her gentile society matter as much as the lives of the disciples, the Jews and those others who Jesus has healed. She understands so much more about what Jesus’ good news is than the disciples and the Jewish leaders, the ‘House of Israel’ to whom Jesus first preaches it.
I suggest that this is about God’s grace, available for all because we all do matter, we are all deserving of his love and blessings. We are not in a queue for God’s grace, nor is it portioned out according to our good works, or what branch of Christianity we find ourselves comfortable in, nor according to any of the barriers and divisions we make along the lines of race, colour, age, culture, gender, religion or wealth.
If each of our lives matter to God then how do our attitudes and actions reflect that others’ lives matter very much too – the lives of individuals which we show by our respect, and the lives of communities or groups of people known and unknown by acting justly. No doubt you can think of many examples where we, as people of faith, might question whether our lives here matter more to us than the lives of others elsewhere – refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants crossing continents and the sea – or in the future, as people as persistent as the Canaanite woman, raise the issues of climate change and the very life of our planet.
There is another movement that is very much in our thoughts at the moment and that is in Beirut and Lebanon where people are crying out that their lives matter. The terrible explosion has brought this to the forefront of our news for a very short time. Long-term, people there need hope and I would like to take this opportunity of promoting the work of Embrace the Middle East who have 12 Christian partners there who know first-hand how devastated the city and the country are and who provide facilities and support in the areas of education and health, (2) physical, mental and emotional. If you are wondering how you can act in this situation then I commend making a donation to Embrace (formerly the Bible lands Society and with over a hundred years of working in the region) specifically for Lebanon. This can be done through their website or sending a cheque to the organisation at 24 London Road West, Amersham, Bucks HP7 0EZ. Thank you.
Our thanks to Kathy for her very interesting and caring Reflection.
Cookham Rise is open! ‘Following the acceptance of our risk assessment, Cookham Rise is open for private prayer. The days and times are Sunday 2-4 p.m. and Wednesday 10-12 noon. If anyone is coming to Cookham for a walk then they are welcome to come in via the meadow path where someone will be to give the guidelines for keeping everyone safe - Kathy R’)
Words of encouragement from the Bible – with thanks to Alan.
Jesus wants us to have faith Jesus healed the daughter and said to her mother ‘Woman, what faith you have’ (Matthew 15 vv 28). Paul says ‘God’s purpose was to show mercy to all mankind’ (Romans 15 vv 32). The Psalmist says, ‘For the LORD bestows His blessing, even life forevermore’ (Psalm 133 vv 3)
Prayer: ‘Lord God we thank You for all there is in our world, natural and man-made. As we come into Your presence, we celebrate them and praise You for them. Speak to us Lord through all Your works. You are our rock in times of trouble. You lift us up when we fall down. All through the storm Your love is strong and sure, our hope is in You alone. In the joys, may we celebrate with You Lord. In our troubles, may we shout out to You with boldness and listen to You in faith. In the everyday, may we journey on with You. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us now and for evermore. Amen’