Sermon Theme for Sunday, August 9

One God, One People

The sneers and condescending looks must have vanished from the disciples’ faces when they heard Jesus’ words filled with love and pride like a father who watched his child do something very well: “Woman, you have great faith!”

The Pharisees he called blind; the disciples he called people of little faith and spiritually dull. But this gentile woman, to her, he says, you have great faith. Jesus showed them that the church was meant for all people. He took this woman, who only claimed the crumbs of the dogs, and invited her to the table of faith. She, in faith, trusted that crumbs from her master were enough for her, and instead she found out that in the kingdom there are no dogs. In fact, there’s no difference between Jew or gentile, male or female, slave or free. You are all one in Christ Jesus, because the one she believed in, the Son of David, is the Savior of the world.

The church is meant for all people. Today’s readings teach that the gift of Grace was given to Israel. God also intended to give it through Israel to the world.