11th Sunday after Trinity (Year A) | 16th August 2026 | St Anne’s Church, Wrenthorpe | Eucharist
Matthew 15:21-28 | Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 | Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Did you all ‘see’ the solar eclipse last week? Was it dark enough for you? Perhaps not. Maybe you weren’t too bothered, having seen them before. For many it was a good opportunity for a Summer party – with or without the correct eye-wear! It was certainly a popular phenomenon, with some people saying that it framed our humanity, and our place in the bigger picture.
Sometimes it’s the big-picture stuff that draws us together, as a species, a nation or community. Too often though, we operate on a much smaller scale, over-focussing on small stuff, usually on small screens!
Even at church-level – the ‘scale’ of what we do, isn’t always clear. I stand before you, sharing words and ideas that are not unfamiliar, and we do this every week. You come here for all sorts of reasons. Hopefully we all hope for a stirring-up of some common purpose to serve God. And in this place we come together for the journey, to break and share bread. Sometimes we do more, and reach out… there [point to door] … Often, though, we just need God to reach… in here [point to self].
Thankfully, God works with the bigger picture, even when we cannot.
This year, in our three years Lectionary cycle of readings, we follow Matthew’s account of Jesus, but we don’t get to hear it all, on Sundays. In the verses previous to what we just heard, Jesus is embroiled in a discourse on purity – and He falls out with the Pharisees, about what is clean and unclean. He pushes back on their understanding of the Law, and thus, their understanding of God.
Elsewhere, Matthew tell us that Jesus came to fulfil the Law – not to abolish it, or do away with the idea of ‘Israel’ as God’s chosen people. God’s purpose in the world would begin with Israel. They had to hear the message first. Jesus knew this as the core of His mission.
However, not everyone that challenged Jesus held high-office in society. Thankfully, there are those in the Bible – often women – who push against the closed doors of society, the status quo – and Jesus suddenly had His hands full, with a challenge from a new quarter.
This Canaanite woman – from a land with a long history of enmity with Israel – says: ‘even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’
Speaking of crumbs, just a couple of weeks ago, we heard about a massive picnic! Bread, fish, a multitude and, what remained? Do you remember? There were twelve baskets of leftovers! What happened to them, I wonder?
This woman, before Jesus, asks not for the bread, the fish, the food from the mouth of Israel – but for what was left-over – what remained after everyone had eaten. Could she have that, please? It’s not much to ask for, is it?
This story isn’t actually about physical food, though….
She knows what Jesus is offering – healing, transformation, salvation for all – not new ideas then, but echoing back to the prophets and beyond. She speaks of a Good News that even the disciples have failed to grasp – and her daughter is not outside the reach of God’s mercy. She’s prepared to fight for it.
Of course – Jesus heals her child instantly, recognising and proclaiming the woman’s faith. The logic, the simplicity, the ‘truth’ of this moment – this request, is not lost on Jesus. His mission might have been primarily to Israel, but God’s mission is to everyone, and Jesus knew this too.
Elsewhere – have a read of today’s other New Testament passage. Paul wrestles with the question of Israel and Gentiles within the new Christian community in Rome. There are disagreements over who has the most claim to Jesus, and if this new faith should be only for those coming from Judaism. As ever, Paul rests on God’s faithfulness…
If God’s gifts are not wanted, adopted or used, they are not then taken away.
Those who don’t hear or don’t want God’s gifts, they are not discounted by God, as useless or of no consequence.
No – the gifts and blessings of God are not diminished by being shared more widely. His mercy is infinite.
Those who do hear and believe, and then live their life for God, can be an example that helps others to see.
The ‘lost sheep of the House of Israel’ – whom Jesus came first to encourage – might themselves be transformed by seeing God’s grace reach beyond the boundaries they had imagined, even amongst the Canaanite people!
Phew! Ok, Isaiah said it more simply:
Thus says the Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
besides those already gathered.
(Isaiah 56:8)
There you have it! Hope and love are universal – a transformation into the light for those lost in darkness!
It is a challenge, in these times, to think of Israel in the context of showing the way to God. Commenting on “the situation” in Israel and Gaza, is nuanced by language, history and of course, politics. The modern nation-state of Israel, and its engagement with the world, does not encompass all Jewish people, or their long history as a people chosen by God. However we perceive Israel now, from current circumstances, is not all that there is.
God sees different. The transformative love of God can and must be visible, somehow. It is not to be kept solely within groups of like-minded folks who believe theirs is the only way. Nor should it be presumed missing in action. Our Christian mission works best when it’s seen and lived, and when others see some universal value in it.
Although the solar eclipse, and other natural wonders, might give humanity pause for thought about our amazing existence, we also witness plenty of events – natural and unnatural – to give us cause for despair. Wherever we look in the world, near and far, we see drought, flood, earthquakes, war, famine, disease and the outcome of human folly. We could look away. Yet, for those affected by such things, there is no distraction. What are we to do?
Well, we can pray – alone or together. We can look for connections in scripture and we can come here, each week. And yet… we can do more though….
The Christian presence in our society has mostly been a ‘good thing’. Sometimes a very good thing, such as when we offer a place and context for national mourning and reflection, and when we demonstrate a good example of compassion and love. Western Christianity is formed by various churches, denominations, and joined and strengthened by other faiths, with values akin to those we find in Jesus.
The message of Jesus is past, present and future, and within us all. We bear it onwards, and it is for us to proclaim and share – right now. Not just shouting about it. Not loudly applying moral absolutes or judgements. Not posting on social media – ‘I’m right and your’e not!’.
To share the Good News with everyone – in your actions and your words – is to be love itself. Be present with those in need, stand alongside the outcast, challenge the hatred and falsehoods of this world. We are given the commandment to love one another. We must not only share crumbs, but make a bounty for all people to take their fill, and more! Whether they come to church or not.
Our faithfulness is tested. Every day! There is much that wants to snatch our hope away from us, and, in its place allow a selfish cynicism to thrive; to replace compassion with… “do you know what, I really just don’t care”.
We are needed! I hope we recognise the temptations that we heard earlier, when the Disciples ask Jesus to – ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ Oh dear!
We need questions asked of us. And not all questions will be neat and tidy, within these walls, with a Bible at hand! We need people like the woman in today’s Gospel, to ask us – “this Good News of which you speak, is it just for you or can we all share in it?”
God’s purpose through us is to be open and loving, filled with a joyful spirit that, at the very least, prompts us to respond: “love one another, as I have loved you”; and to make sure that, wherever possible, the Gospel of Christ is visible to everyone, somehow.
And then maybe, yes, surely, in response to our prayers and our efforts, we just might hear…. “great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” (Mth 15:28).
May God be with you in the days to come.
Amen.
Image: Photo by Bimda W on Unsplash
“The Bigger Picture” or “The Main-Meal Salad” – hard to decide… then again, posting this after cooking dinner! 😉