Mission and Ministry Series
Old Mystic, September 27, 2009
Matthew 28:16-20
Summary
Jesus’ mandate to go and make disciples continues to be the appeal to God’s people to participate, get involved, and fulfill God’s purpose to build God’s Kingdom of love, peace, and justice. God continues to build the present and the future new world and new humanity by engaging people, missional people, who are willing to go and embrace more people.
Sermon
To say that God is a people’s person would be too much of a humanizing image of our Creator—there are perhaps more theologically sound statements that can be made about the Living God and his nature. At the same time, the history of salvation, as revealed in the scriptures, reflects God’s desire, intention, and actions to reach out to people and get them involved in a new creation, the creation of a new humanity. People are called, invited, and challenged to be transformed. That is what salvation is all about: a new world, with new life, with renewed hopes, where love is real, and peace and justice prevail. And we are being saved to be agents of salvation. A God who loves people, who reaches out to people, wants to accomplish his purpose with people and through people.
It would have been logical—in the most rational sense—that for such an enterprise as God’s mission for the whole creation, he would have chosen the most qualified, trained, and smart individuals like we would do when facing most of our human endeavors. Yet Jesus chose common folk like you and me. In fact, many of us would claim to have a little more education and refined manners than some of the rough fishermen who were part of the entourage. But they were chosen and they were special; they were willing to follow Jesus, they even claimed to be ready to die for him if necessary, and they stuck with him in spite of their doubts and weakness. They were special because they were God’s people. And anyone can be God’s people.
Reading William Paul Young’s The Shack, I was tickled by his portrait of God as a large African American woman who happened to be fond of anyone whose name was mentioned to her—both the good and the not so good. And she was always “particularly” fond of each and everyone. This is such a powerful image of how much God loves people. Full of love and patience God waits on us!
At the same time, as we look into the scene pictured in our reading, at the climax of Jesus’ life, work, and ministry, we are also challenged to join God in God’s mission in the world because God has chosen to do his work with people. This may seem obvious to many. On the other hand, we are seeing the church shrinking and in many ways loosing its sense of mission because we have made of it a closed circle or an association of the select and the elect who are just waiting for the “members” to show up. Jesus words are compelling, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” The task is probably clear: making disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them. We may even claim that we are ready for the task—don’t we have a pastor, a building (with a baptistery and classrooms), and piles of Bibles, books, and other materials? But are they coming to us?
Jesus used an action word that has inspired generations and may need to be re-introduced: Go! And this emphasis of being sent it is not just a whim of anxious pastors who want to fill their buildings and enjoy the sweet taste of professional success as it is measured by church growth standards. In fact, Jesus did not say “go and bring ‘em.” He just said, Go! There is no question that a church will not build a concrete Christian community in a particular location unless people come. But they will come if God’s people go and meet people, bless people, love people, and embrace people wherever they go, in the name of God and reflecting in their lives the character of Jesus Christ.
But what does it mean to go for “regular” folks in the pews (or chairs) today? Let me just muster a few answers. First, to go is to be missional. This is a rather new qualifier for the church and it is roughly understood as a quality of congregations that do most of the work outside their buildings. They are less concerned about institutional and numerical growth that in what they can accomplish with God and for God when they go out. They go to the soup kitchen, to the rescue mission, to the community center, the hospital, and the nursing home. And wherever they go, they focus on people and their needs and they become vessels of the Christ that want to bless lives.
The action is out there! Obviously, we’d love to meet people’s needs in this place all the time, not only on Sundays—if we actually do! But, let’s face it, people are not knocking down our doors to get in and fill our building. The work is out there and anyone can do it because that is God’s design: God is sending people to go and do it. The disciples were able to do it because they had spent time with Jesus and when making connections with people they reflected the character of the Christ.
Second, to go and do mission means for us today that we must go to places both near and far away. Going far away has traditionally being left to missionaries. They go and work, teach, and serve among people in distant lands where there are many needs to be met. Not all of us have been called to such a task. Yet we can respond to the imperative of going by remaining connected with our missionaries, in support of them, and eventually through our own involvement in the mission field. We will be going to places if we embrace those who are in the mission field because they are part of us. Missionaries are people, our people, who God sent to reach out to underserved peoples.
Third, Jesus’ words are inviting us to go to the usual places; the places where we go day in and day out; the ordinary places; the places where we meet people, work with them, have fun with them, and where all kinds of interactions take place—including church! We do not need to get set in a sort of missional mode to be God’s people blessing people; we can be missional just by being there. The very presence of a heart that prays for the sick, has compassion for the brokenhearted, that weeps with those who weep, laughs with those who laugh, and loves people, can and will make a difference.
To go is to be there for our family, our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and the stranger that needs a helping hand. To go is to walk our daily walk—not ignoring our own needs and nurturing—but with a focus on people and asking the question: “what can I do for you?” Not everyone will welcome us, that is a sad fact. Yet, there is so much need in this world that we will always find someone to help.
Building a Christian community here requires bringing people together. The beauty of being God’s church rests on the fact that we are a community of people that love one another, enjoy spending time together, and have fun doing things together. We help one another, we support one another, and we want to bring more people into the body. I always like to emphasize when talking about how we can grow as a congregation that people bring people. It is not the programs, or the quality of the music, or the inspiration of the preaching. Those things undoubtedly help. Transformation happens when people become missional, and go, and do good to others. Bringing them in becomes then a natural thing.
The Power of Speech
Old Mystic, September 13, 2009
James 3:1-12
Summary
The way we speak, the manner in which we talk to one another, our speech, when led by the Spirit of God, has the potential of transforming lives and building God’s kingdom.
Sermon
How many times have you realized that you wanted to take your words back? Not so much because a particular statement made was inaccurate, or some facts were distorted, or because it was plainly wrong. In fact, many of us have a hard time to recognize that sometimes we are completely mistaken. But when our words involve consequences—which most of the time do—and by speaking them someone may be misguided, confused, or hurt, we may get that feeling of uneasiness; a deep sense that we want to take those words back.
Our speech is very important. It has to do with how we communicate with one another by means of our language—sometimes more than one—within a culture, a region, or a particular setting. Our choice of words is crucial to be understood. And when we have certain degree of authority because of our role, or the position we hold, or the trust granted to us, our speech bears a significant influence on our relationships. We are all influenced, shaped, changed, and transformed—both positively and negatively—by the way we talk to each other, and the messages we hear and pass along.
As I look at our lectionary passage I must confess I struggle with the use of strong metaphors to depict the reprehensible use of the tongue, a symbol of our speech. James puts it bluntly, “the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! …The tongue is a fire… stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell… no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” These are very strong words themselves, yet they are spoken to illustrate the power of speech.
I have often heard messages preached about this passage focused mostly on gossip and how spreading rumors can affect our relationships in congregations. This is obviously very important, however, in the context of the passage, the misuse of speech and the weight of words, I believe, is primarily focused on authority. James is warning teachers—who boast authority—to be careful about the way they speak. Voices that are granted authority have great influence and we can witness to that both in the private realm and the public square. Words are very rarely “gone with the wind.” A child will be shaped by the words he or she hears from those who have “authority” at home. Young lives are constantly shaped at school by the language and speech of teachers and sometimes those who are “in charge” are not aware of what an influence they are in those lives.
The airwaves are filled with words that influence our lives beyond our schooling years. We hear the sound bites of political half-truths pounding our years, stirring our feelings, and very often leading us to deception. Not to mention, in this informational age how the internet has become such a medium of deception. We all cherish the first amendment and the beauty of our freedom of speech and we can and should use any means to communicate, get informed, and acquire knowledge. Let’s beware, however, not to use such a precious right as a weapon to destroy; let it be a tool to build!
Many can claim authority and allege to possess the truth and, those who believe them, will give a lot of weight to their words. Yet, in this postmodern century, having come to the realization of the limitations of our humanity, can’t we finally agree that we have just glimpses of the “truth” and only perceptions of reality? The world needs humble words; words that honestly acknowledge that we can’t see the whole picture; words that are carefully articulated and spoken to build a better world; to build the kingdom of God.
We need to employ a language that transforms and shapes a new world in the image of Jesus Christ. We need a different language than that we hear most of the time. First, this is a language of love. Paul, writing in the first letter to the Corinthians, as he addressed the abuses in the use of “spiritual language,” said: “If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Words may be powerful but will be empty or destructive without love. But when they express love they have the power to transform the world!
They ought to be honest, however. Love must be in our hearts and that may not come that easy though God sheds love in our hearts according to the scriptures. But when have love to give, let us not keep it just for ourselves and those who we find easy to love. Let us use words of love even for those who we believe don’t deserve them. It is obvious that evil can overwhelm us and hamper our ability to use constructive, loving speech. Yet, the worst evils can be denounced in contrast to God’s love with benevolent words.
Second, when we speak words of love our speech bears good news. That is what the gospel is all about. Good news about God being active in the world; good news about the reality and the possibility of a kingdom of love, peace, and justice; good news of hope for the poor, the brokenhearted, the sick, and the downtrodden. In God’s world even the bad news have their flip side, so let us bring the good news even in the midst of a catastrophe.
The gospel has been so often preached using many words to let people know what is wrong with them; why they need Jesus Christ and how heavy their sins are. Sins are heavy, yet it is the language of the good news of God’s love and of God’s redemption in Christ that will speak to the needs of the person. Good news spoken with love will make the difference more than a thousand words addressing what is wrong. Critical thinking and social analysis are great tools to asses the crude reality of a world plagued by oppression, war, and poverty. There is also a flip side to this harsh reality: God’s salvation, God’s liberation, and God’s kingdom are already here and yet they will fully realize in the future. We can use words of good news to paint the wonderful picture of this promise.
Third, words of love bring good news, and these are good news of peace. Words are such a huge part in dealing with conflict. They can deter violence but they also have the potential of increasing hostilities. In fact, words and their powerful influence can indeed initiate the most bitter and deadly conflicts between human beings. As we face clashes of all kinds day in and day out, let us be reminded that the good news of Christ are good news of peace. In the letter to the Ephesians, the writer, when speaking about the Christian wearing the whole armor of God—significantly, a language of war—admonishes the audience that “As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.”
Peace is the best word to describe the future, the hope, and the promise of God for humankind in Jesus Christ. We can perhaps argue that sometimes we have to fight for peace. Many have resorted to the argument that war is inevitable and sided with Saint Augustine to articulate the possibility and reality of a just war. Others have maintained that when following the teachings of Jesus they find no justification for war. Either way, our daily language can make a difference. We possess the ability to choose our words and therefore we can carefully select words that sow seeds of peace in our homes, our neighborhoods, our congregations, and in the public square.
The way we talk to each other can be a powerful influence. Let us be truthful but careful; honest but measured; passionate but peaceful; denouncing but soothing. Above all, may our speech be a message of love and peace that bears the good news of Jesus Christ.
James 3:1-12
Summary
The way we speak, the manner in which we talk to one another, our speech, when led by the Spirit of God, has the potential of transforming lives and building God’s kingdom.
Sermon
How many times have you realized that you wanted to take your words back? Not so much because a particular statement made was inaccurate, or some facts were distorted, or because it was plainly wrong. In fact, many of us have a hard time to recognize that sometimes we are completely mistaken. But when our words involve consequences—which most of the time do—and by speaking them someone may be misguided, confused, or hurt, we may get that feeling of uneasiness; a deep sense that we want to take those words back.
Our speech is very important. It has to do with how we communicate with one another by means of our language—sometimes more than one—within a culture, a region, or a particular setting. Our choice of words is crucial to be understood. And when we have certain degree of authority because of our role, or the position we hold, or the trust granted to us, our speech bears a significant influence on our relationships. We are all influenced, shaped, changed, and transformed—both positively and negatively—by the way we talk to each other, and the messages we hear and pass along.
As I look at our lectionary passage I must confess I struggle with the use of strong metaphors to depict the reprehensible use of the tongue, a symbol of our speech. James puts it bluntly, “the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! …The tongue is a fire… stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell… no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” These are very strong words themselves, yet they are spoken to illustrate the power of speech.
I have often heard messages preached about this passage focused mostly on gossip and how spreading rumors can affect our relationships in congregations. This is obviously very important, however, in the context of the passage, the misuse of speech and the weight of words, I believe, is primarily focused on authority. James is warning teachers—who boast authority—to be careful about the way they speak. Voices that are granted authority have great influence and we can witness to that both in the private realm and the public square. Words are very rarely “gone with the wind.” A child will be shaped by the words he or she hears from those who have “authority” at home. Young lives are constantly shaped at school by the language and speech of teachers and sometimes those who are “in charge” are not aware of what an influence they are in those lives.
The airwaves are filled with words that influence our lives beyond our schooling years. We hear the sound bites of political half-truths pounding our years, stirring our feelings, and very often leading us to deception. Not to mention, in this informational age how the internet has become such a medium of deception. We all cherish the first amendment and the beauty of our freedom of speech and we can and should use any means to communicate, get informed, and acquire knowledge. Let’s beware, however, not to use such a precious right as a weapon to destroy; let it be a tool to build!
Many can claim authority and allege to possess the truth and, those who believe them, will give a lot of weight to their words. Yet, in this postmodern century, having come to the realization of the limitations of our humanity, can’t we finally agree that we have just glimpses of the “truth” and only perceptions of reality? The world needs humble words; words that honestly acknowledge that we can’t see the whole picture; words that are carefully articulated and spoken to build a better world; to build the kingdom of God.
We need to employ a language that transforms and shapes a new world in the image of Jesus Christ. We need a different language than that we hear most of the time. First, this is a language of love. Paul, writing in the first letter to the Corinthians, as he addressed the abuses in the use of “spiritual language,” said: “If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Words may be powerful but will be empty or destructive without love. But when they express love they have the power to transform the world!
They ought to be honest, however. Love must be in our hearts and that may not come that easy though God sheds love in our hearts according to the scriptures. But when have love to give, let us not keep it just for ourselves and those who we find easy to love. Let us use words of love even for those who we believe don’t deserve them. It is obvious that evil can overwhelm us and hamper our ability to use constructive, loving speech. Yet, the worst evils can be denounced in contrast to God’s love with benevolent words.
Second, when we speak words of love our speech bears good news. That is what the gospel is all about. Good news about God being active in the world; good news about the reality and the possibility of a kingdom of love, peace, and justice; good news of hope for the poor, the brokenhearted, the sick, and the downtrodden. In God’s world even the bad news have their flip side, so let us bring the good news even in the midst of a catastrophe.
The gospel has been so often preached using many words to let people know what is wrong with them; why they need Jesus Christ and how heavy their sins are. Sins are heavy, yet it is the language of the good news of God’s love and of God’s redemption in Christ that will speak to the needs of the person. Good news spoken with love will make the difference more than a thousand words addressing what is wrong. Critical thinking and social analysis are great tools to asses the crude reality of a world plagued by oppression, war, and poverty. There is also a flip side to this harsh reality: God’s salvation, God’s liberation, and God’s kingdom are already here and yet they will fully realize in the future. We can use words of good news to paint the wonderful picture of this promise.
Third, words of love bring good news, and these are good news of peace. Words are such a huge part in dealing with conflict. They can deter violence but they also have the potential of increasing hostilities. In fact, words and their powerful influence can indeed initiate the most bitter and deadly conflicts between human beings. As we face clashes of all kinds day in and day out, let us be reminded that the good news of Christ are good news of peace. In the letter to the Ephesians, the writer, when speaking about the Christian wearing the whole armor of God—significantly, a language of war—admonishes the audience that “As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.”
Peace is the best word to describe the future, the hope, and the promise of God for humankind in Jesus Christ. We can perhaps argue that sometimes we have to fight for peace. Many have resorted to the argument that war is inevitable and sided with Saint Augustine to articulate the possibility and reality of a just war. Others have maintained that when following the teachings of Jesus they find no justification for war. Either way, our daily language can make a difference. We possess the ability to choose our words and therefore we can carefully select words that sow seeds of peace in our homes, our neighborhoods, our congregations, and in the public square.
The way we talk to each other can be a powerful influence. Let us be truthful but careful; honest but measured; passionate but peaceful; denouncing but soothing. Above all, may our speech be a message of love and peace that bears the good news of Jesus Christ.
Blessings for All
Old Mystic, September 6, 2009
Mark 7:27-30
Summary
As we look into the casting out of the demon from the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter, we are challenged to trust in God’s physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, which is a precious gift from God and it is a gift for all.
Sermon
I grew up in a Baptist church singing most of the hymns we sing today, many of which had already been around for many years in those days. One that particularly goes back to my earliest days and as far back as I can remember is the familiar “Count your Blessings.” Even at an early age, the admonition of those words was very instructional and the message, a simple and honest appeal to trust in God’s providence.
“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings—name them on by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” (Johnson Oatman Jr., 1897)
Needless to say, and after having seen so much suffering in this world, the simplicity of the lyrics of that hymn may be perhaps a bit difficult to take. Sickness and disease are rampant in this world. And when we suffer physical, emotional, and even spiritual ailments, we may be so much blinded by our condition not to be able to count our blessings—if we can reckon any.
But faith in Christ does sustain us and I believe we can always count blessings. Personally, if you hear me complain, shame on me! I have many: family, friends, a church, a roof, food on the table and… to a great degree fairly good health. Health? There is no question, as we age and advance in life, we realize how much we cherish our health.
The health of her daughter was the concern of the Syrophoenician woman of our story. In her days there was no health care whether private, or universal, in the single payer form, with public option or not, or run by the government. She could only depend on her faith and on a miracle. Her daughter had an unclean spirit and she needed that demon to be cast out, and Jesus, uninvited, seeking a respite, and not wanting to be noticed, happened to be around.
Hopeful, she came to Jesus only to hear a statement that is hard to take when it is put in Jesus’ lips. “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Was Jesus just testing her? She was not a Jew and therefore she was not entitled to the blessings from a God that it were understood to be exclusive. But she insisted. Her faith was perhaps stronger and her understanding wider than that of most of the religious people then. “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs,” she replied. She appealed to the universal grace of God, who offers healing to all. Whether Jesus was testing her to teach her a lesson or he was simply unwilling to offer healing to a non Jew and changed his mind seem to me of secondary importance. The gift of healing was available for the woman’s daughter.
Healing is a gift from God. Our bodies can be treated with all the advances of modern scientific medicine, with the most effective drugs, and the most aggressive intervention by specialists, but who can explain the miracle of wounds healed, of cells regenerated, of broken bones solidified? Someone may even suggest, from a non religious perspective, that it is the body that has the capacity of self-healing. But, can we fail to see God’s hand in human healing? Don’t we pray every Sunday for the sick—sometimes a long list—because we know that healing is a gift from God?
Yet, we all know the importance of human intervention and how God does act through human agents. We are all aware we need doctors, nurses, aides, hospitals, and yes… some sort of administration to manage what is God’s gift. We all need healthcare to reach physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Unfortunately, it seems that in this world healthcare is a commodity—human action to broker a gift from God, but action that is costly. It can be sold and bought and at a very high price tag. We all know how many in America go bankrupt in their golden years because they are stuck with a huge medical bill. Again,let’s not be mistaken, medical care is very costly. The training of good professionals, the technology applied, and the research required to offer good healthcare cost a lot of money. Yet, for us, as Christians, reflecting upon the love of God and Jesus’ works, it is still a gift from God; the gift of our intelligence, our minds, and our creativity to offer God’s gift of healing.
Jesus response to the Syrophoenician woman was simply that her daughter, under the oppression of an unclean spirit, did not qualify for healing according the standards of the Jewish cultural and religious standards of the day. Nonetheless, he healed the girl upon the plea and the insistence of her mother. As she put it, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And her statement points to a profound theological reality, the truth that God is not an exclusive God.
Healing, health, and healthcare are not an exclusive benefit. They are not just the privilege of some who believe they are entitled to it. They are a gift for all from a God that is inclusive! Unfortunately, in this world we all love to dwell on privilege and entitlement (Nozick). Justice means for many that possessing goods or services is a right of those who can acquire or inherit them. What about the less fortunate? What about those who Jesus called the least, those who, because of the many injustices we witness day by day in this world cannot afford some of the most basic goods and services including health care? Jesus’ statement on Matthew 25 makes us al responsible for all. And that may mean relinquishing some of our deeply entrenched sense of entitlement.
It is painful for me to witness the ongoing national discussion on healthcare. But my disappointment has not so much to do with the acceptance or not of the current bill on the legislative table; nor with the heated discussions in town meetings, after all there have been probably more civilized conversations than those highly publicized by the media. What is painful for me, is the feet-dragging, the fear mongering, and the systematic attempts to debunk any efforts to provide healthcare for all. I believe we should use the language of human rights: healthcare is not a commodity it is a basic human right—and I call it a gift from God Almighty.
Jesus could not, would not, and did not deny care to the foreigner, poor, and religiously undeserving person. His final words were, “you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” Of course, he is Jesus! Nobody better than him to know that what he had to offer was –and is—a gift from God and a gift for all.
Unfortunately, very often swept by the cultural and political trends, we Christians tend to forget our prophetic role. We are interpreters of the Scriptures and bearers of the message of the gospel; messengers of good news. And the good news is that God cares for all and God wants us to care for all. We are stewards of God’s gifts, including whatever means are necessary in bringing healing to this world. We must acknowledge the complexities involved in attaining some of the goals of God’s kingdom here and now. Yet, we cannot ignore God’s love, compassion, and the free gift of healing for all human beings. And foremost, we have to trust God! And based upon that trust work hard to make sure that God’s blessings reach all.
Mark 7:27-30
Summary
As we look into the casting out of the demon from the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter, we are challenged to trust in God’s physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, which is a precious gift from God and it is a gift for all.
Sermon
I grew up in a Baptist church singing most of the hymns we sing today, many of which had already been around for many years in those days. One that particularly goes back to my earliest days and as far back as I can remember is the familiar “Count your Blessings.” Even at an early age, the admonition of those words was very instructional and the message, a simple and honest appeal to trust in God’s providence.
“When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings—name them on by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” (Johnson Oatman Jr., 1897)
Needless to say, and after having seen so much suffering in this world, the simplicity of the lyrics of that hymn may be perhaps a bit difficult to take. Sickness and disease are rampant in this world. And when we suffer physical, emotional, and even spiritual ailments, we may be so much blinded by our condition not to be able to count our blessings—if we can reckon any.
But faith in Christ does sustain us and I believe we can always count blessings. Personally, if you hear me complain, shame on me! I have many: family, friends, a church, a roof, food on the table and… to a great degree fairly good health. Health? There is no question, as we age and advance in life, we realize how much we cherish our health.
The health of her daughter was the concern of the Syrophoenician woman of our story. In her days there was no health care whether private, or universal, in the single payer form, with public option or not, or run by the government. She could only depend on her faith and on a miracle. Her daughter had an unclean spirit and she needed that demon to be cast out, and Jesus, uninvited, seeking a respite, and not wanting to be noticed, happened to be around.
Hopeful, she came to Jesus only to hear a statement that is hard to take when it is put in Jesus’ lips. “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” Was Jesus just testing her? She was not a Jew and therefore she was not entitled to the blessings from a God that it were understood to be exclusive. But she insisted. Her faith was perhaps stronger and her understanding wider than that of most of the religious people then. “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs,” she replied. She appealed to the universal grace of God, who offers healing to all. Whether Jesus was testing her to teach her a lesson or he was simply unwilling to offer healing to a non Jew and changed his mind seem to me of secondary importance. The gift of healing was available for the woman’s daughter.
Healing is a gift from God. Our bodies can be treated with all the advances of modern scientific medicine, with the most effective drugs, and the most aggressive intervention by specialists, but who can explain the miracle of wounds healed, of cells regenerated, of broken bones solidified? Someone may even suggest, from a non religious perspective, that it is the body that has the capacity of self-healing. But, can we fail to see God’s hand in human healing? Don’t we pray every Sunday for the sick—sometimes a long list—because we know that healing is a gift from God?
Yet, we all know the importance of human intervention and how God does act through human agents. We are all aware we need doctors, nurses, aides, hospitals, and yes… some sort of administration to manage what is God’s gift. We all need healthcare to reach physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Unfortunately, it seems that in this world healthcare is a commodity—human action to broker a gift from God, but action that is costly. It can be sold and bought and at a very high price tag. We all know how many in America go bankrupt in their golden years because they are stuck with a huge medical bill. Again,let’s not be mistaken, medical care is very costly. The training of good professionals, the technology applied, and the research required to offer good healthcare cost a lot of money. Yet, for us, as Christians, reflecting upon the love of God and Jesus’ works, it is still a gift from God; the gift of our intelligence, our minds, and our creativity to offer God’s gift of healing.
Jesus response to the Syrophoenician woman was simply that her daughter, under the oppression of an unclean spirit, did not qualify for healing according the standards of the Jewish cultural and religious standards of the day. Nonetheless, he healed the girl upon the plea and the insistence of her mother. As she put it, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” And her statement points to a profound theological reality, the truth that God is not an exclusive God.
Healing, health, and healthcare are not an exclusive benefit. They are not just the privilege of some who believe they are entitled to it. They are a gift for all from a God that is inclusive! Unfortunately, in this world we all love to dwell on privilege and entitlement (Nozick). Justice means for many that possessing goods or services is a right of those who can acquire or inherit them. What about the less fortunate? What about those who Jesus called the least, those who, because of the many injustices we witness day by day in this world cannot afford some of the most basic goods and services including health care? Jesus’ statement on Matthew 25 makes us al responsible for all. And that may mean relinquishing some of our deeply entrenched sense of entitlement.
It is painful for me to witness the ongoing national discussion on healthcare. But my disappointment has not so much to do with the acceptance or not of the current bill on the legislative table; nor with the heated discussions in town meetings, after all there have been probably more civilized conversations than those highly publicized by the media. What is painful for me, is the feet-dragging, the fear mongering, and the systematic attempts to debunk any efforts to provide healthcare for all. I believe we should use the language of human rights: healthcare is not a commodity it is a basic human right—and I call it a gift from God Almighty.
Jesus could not, would not, and did not deny care to the foreigner, poor, and religiously undeserving person. His final words were, “you may go—the demon has left your daughter.” Of course, he is Jesus! Nobody better than him to know that what he had to offer was –and is—a gift from God and a gift for all.
Unfortunately, very often swept by the cultural and political trends, we Christians tend to forget our prophetic role. We are interpreters of the Scriptures and bearers of the message of the gospel; messengers of good news. And the good news is that God cares for all and God wants us to care for all. We are stewards of God’s gifts, including whatever means are necessary in bringing healing to this world. We must acknowledge the complexities involved in attaining some of the goals of God’s kingdom here and now. Yet, we cannot ignore God’s love, compassion, and the free gift of healing for all human beings. And foremost, we have to trust God! And based upon that trust work hard to make sure that God’s blessings reach all.
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