Proper 15, Pentecost 13, Ordinary Time 20
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series VII, Cycle A
Object:
Seasonal Theme
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Theme For The Day
God's compassion for all sorts and kinds of people and the faith which persists.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph Forgives
How generous of brother Joseph to forgive his brothers and announce God's providence was accomplished in what they had done to him. It wasn't the brothers' evil but God's will to protect and extend life that was at the center of the action. This theological theme is central to the entire Joseph story.
So Joseph on his own authority invites his entire family to relocate to Goshen in Egypt. Joseph's boss, the Pharaoh, adds they can have the best land of Egypt which was between Port Said and Suez in what is now called Wadi Tumilat.
In verse 7, the word "remnant" is in the sense of a surviving descendant as in 2 Samuel 14:7. Verse 8 means he advised the Pharaoh. The poor mortgaged their lands in time of famine. Sometimes they even sold their family or even themselves into slavery (see 47:13-26). Perhaps Benjamin is mentioned because Jacob did not trust his older sons. Joseph's dominating concern is for his father, Jacob. Twenty-two years of non-communication is ended with Joseph and Benjamin weeping. Only Joseph and Benjamin weep -- perhaps the brothers were too stunned or still too distant from Joseph to weep for joy.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 11:1-2a
The Remnant
Paul puts forth the Old Testament idea of the remnant in verse 5. The whole nation of Jews would not be saved. But there were always that small group of people who remained faithful.
If you use the Roman Catholic or Episcopal Old Testament reading for today (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7), you have a match with Paul's idea of remnant. Isaiah even named a son Shear-Jashub, which means "The Salvation of the Remnant." Other Old Testament prophets spoke of the remnant also: Amos 9:8-10; Micah 2:12 and 5:3; Jeremiah 23:3; and Isaiah 7:3, 8:2, 18:9, 20:21; 6:9-13.
So Paul argues that the nation of Jews hasn't been rejected. There is a small remnant who are true Jews and God will save them. Elijah's (1 Kings 19:10, 18) experience of the remnant meant to Paul divine grace. Verse 32 is not easy as is often the case when he was arguing his theology. Perhaps he is claiming that God caused disobedience of the Jews so that his salvation would be definitely understood as an act of divine mercy. Paul would have no part of our being able to earn God's salvation. It was all God's mercy. Paul's idea of history was that God remained in control. God's purpose was to save and never to destroy. When we consider the final outcome we speak of God's election (v. 28), God's gifts and call (v. 29) and God's mercy (v. 32).
The Gospel
Matthew 5:(10-20) 21-28
A Canaanite Woman's Faith
Verses 10-20 are a critique of the Jews' regulations about ritual cleanliness. Jesus says it's what is in our heart which counts. The early church was being criticized by Judaism and so Matthew here expands on Mark's reporting of the same conversation. He makes it a repudiation of Judaism itself.
Verses 21-28 are tough to understand. The story opens the mission of the early church into the Gentile world. It says that when we expect great things to happen in faith, they often do happen. In that expectancy God can work wonderful acts of love as Jesus did for this woman the disciples saw as a bother and wanted sent away.
Here are a few theories put forth by The Interpreter's Bible to explain the seemingly harsh words in verse 26.
1. Jesus playfully used the diminutive word for dogs.
2. He is trying to teach his followers a lesson.
3. He is testing the sincerity of her humility and faith.
4. The situation leads Jesus to act on the principle that "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34).
5. Verses 26 and 27 are an old anecdote not originally connected with Jesus at all, and have crept into the gospel tradition.
In all the above, let's remember that foremost he healed a desperate woman's daughter and Matthew seems to indicate it was instantaneous. This was the only instance when Jesus went outside Palestine and Jewish territory. Here then presages the gospel ending barriers and going out to the whole world.
Preaching Possibilities
A. There is a connection between the Genesis reading (Genesis 45:7) and Paul's letter (Romans 11:5) even though this verse has been omitted from the latest cut of scripture selection. It's an odd omission and I will ignore it and include verses 5 and 6 in the reading. "Chosen by grace" (v. 5) and "by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works" (v. 6) are just too good not to share!
Retelling the Joseph story and how he graciously forgave his brothers and gave them good land to boot, then moving to Paul's insistence that we have God's grace too will work. We have offended like the brothers and God forgives like Joseph. We are the remnant, those whom God will save just as Joseph saved his brothers.
B. How about today's Old Testament Lesson as the text for a narrative sermon?
1. We can retell the life of Joseph up to today's account and then move to the brothers' arrival and today's story of Joseph revealing who he is. Stop there with the story and talk of the following:
a. Joseph held no hatred in his heart toward his brothers even when he had very good reason to do so.
b. Joseph went beyond what would be "just" in his forgiveness -- he gave them land in Goshen.
2. Being God's family and brothers and sisters means we too will have good reason to resent and dislike and hold grudges but we are called to a new way of forgiveness to each other just as God forgives us.
3. Joseph was graceful, God is graceful, according to Romans, and we can be graceful as well.
4. Now return to the story and add that the Pharaoh even added a bonus to these undeserving brothers. God gives us a bonus as well.
C. There may yet be a topical approach to today's readings.
1. Theme: Principles to live by for the remnant. Explain the idea of remnant in the Old Testament and New Testament.
2. First Principle: Forgive as Joseph forgave his brothers.
3. Second Principle: Be aware God called and gifted us. God is merciful (Romans 11:29 and 32).
4. Third Principle: Be faithful and persistent as the Canaanite woman was. Expect great things to happen and they will.
D. Perhaps there is yet another approach. Mercy runs through all three of the readings.
1. Joseph showed great mercy toward those brothers who had wronged him.
2. Paul says God shows great, undeserved mercy toward us.
3. Jesus shows mercy toward an outcast woman in the Gospel reading.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. The narrative is compelling. Re-tell the story beginning with Jesus going outside Galilee and Palestine to Gentile Tyre and Sidon. Canaanites lived there and one begins to bug Jesus and his disciples... tell it in your own words.
2. Then move to the fact there have been many explanations of why Jesus seemingly treated this distraught woman so harshly. And each possible explanation provides for us a worthwhile teaching.
a. Some have felt this Jesus used the diminutive word for dogs, "puppies." He didn't despise foreigners but loved them like a puppy. It's a play on words which indicated the Jews' hatred for them was wrong. Our racial narrowness is also condemned.
b. He was trying to teach his disciples a lesson, giving words to their thoughts. He uses this incident to teach them tolerance and even love for others and so can we.
c. He was testing the woman's faith. What worked for her was that she was persistent in the asking and had faith Jesus could do it. It'll work for us also.
d. Here is a new stage in Jesus' ministry. Having been rejected in Galilee, he now gives to this woman what had been rejected there.
e. A new mission principle: God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). The gospel now goes to the world.
f. Possibly this is a story from outside Jesus' life and ministry which has crept into the gospel tradition. Maybe so -- but the reason Matthew put it in here is what's important to us. Jesus had compassion for a woman and her daughter who were outside the Jewish race. There would be no racial corner on God's mercy. Jesus is concerned about us all.
3. Mark probably told it first to illustrate the woman's humility, receptiveness, or persistence in prayer. Matthew has it an example of faith. That has a great deal to tell us also.
4. Now you might finish the sermon by describing this woman going back to her home and finding the well daughter. Imagine how she would describe the encounter with Jesus and what promises she might make, and try to get her daughter to make, as a result to this healing miracle:
a. Never to give in to any racial bigotry,
b. To persist in prayer way beyond what is reasonable,
c. To love the nearby Jewish neighbors,
d. To expect the miracles to continue in their lives,
e. To go tell of this Jesus to their Gentile neighbors and invite them to go over to Galilee if they needed healing.
5. Then for a conclusion, read Matthew 15:29-31.
Prayer Of The Day
Help us to persist in our prayers to you, Jesus, and to resist the words and deeds of racial bigotry wherever and whenever we hear and see them. And for those here assembled who need healing, bring your graceful healing power to work in them. We are not worthy but you are loving anyway. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
I took the large bag of rice into the Brewersville refugee camp for little Carol Kollie's family who survived the murder of her father and brothers in the bush town of Degei. Her mother said she had prayed the night before that somehow God would help her with providing rice for her children or she would end her life herself. Then I showed up with the prayed-for rice. I was the instrument through which God had answered the prayer of a desperate Liberian woman. We are often the channel through which God answers the prayers of God's people.
A female patient in the hospital today said to me after a radical removal of her breast for cancer: "I prayed to God not to let this happen to me -- but he (sic) didn't hear me." Because God doesn't answer our prayer request doesn't mean he doesn't hear it.
On the CBS evening news, concerning the assistance to Vietnam refugees, the newscaster said, "Americans are suffering from 'compassion fatigue.' " Probably those who passed by the man in the ditch along the Jericho road were also. Dare we?
The teaching and ministry of Jesus the Christ.
Theme For The Day
God's compassion for all sorts and kinds of people and the faith which persists.
Old Testament Lesson
Genesis 45:1-15
Joseph Forgives
How generous of brother Joseph to forgive his brothers and announce God's providence was accomplished in what they had done to him. It wasn't the brothers' evil but God's will to protect and extend life that was at the center of the action. This theological theme is central to the entire Joseph story.
So Joseph on his own authority invites his entire family to relocate to Goshen in Egypt. Joseph's boss, the Pharaoh, adds they can have the best land of Egypt which was between Port Said and Suez in what is now called Wadi Tumilat.
In verse 7, the word "remnant" is in the sense of a surviving descendant as in 2 Samuel 14:7. Verse 8 means he advised the Pharaoh. The poor mortgaged their lands in time of famine. Sometimes they even sold their family or even themselves into slavery (see 47:13-26). Perhaps Benjamin is mentioned because Jacob did not trust his older sons. Joseph's dominating concern is for his father, Jacob. Twenty-two years of non-communication is ended with Joseph and Benjamin weeping. Only Joseph and Benjamin weep -- perhaps the brothers were too stunned or still too distant from Joseph to weep for joy.
New Testament Lesson
Romans 11:1-2a
The Remnant
Paul puts forth the Old Testament idea of the remnant in verse 5. The whole nation of Jews would not be saved. But there were always that small group of people who remained faithful.
If you use the Roman Catholic or Episcopal Old Testament reading for today (Isaiah 56:1, 6-7), you have a match with Paul's idea of remnant. Isaiah even named a son Shear-Jashub, which means "The Salvation of the Remnant." Other Old Testament prophets spoke of the remnant also: Amos 9:8-10; Micah 2:12 and 5:3; Jeremiah 23:3; and Isaiah 7:3, 8:2, 18:9, 20:21; 6:9-13.
So Paul argues that the nation of Jews hasn't been rejected. There is a small remnant who are true Jews and God will save them. Elijah's (1 Kings 19:10, 18) experience of the remnant meant to Paul divine grace. Verse 32 is not easy as is often the case when he was arguing his theology. Perhaps he is claiming that God caused disobedience of the Jews so that his salvation would be definitely understood as an act of divine mercy. Paul would have no part of our being able to earn God's salvation. It was all God's mercy. Paul's idea of history was that God remained in control. God's purpose was to save and never to destroy. When we consider the final outcome we speak of God's election (v. 28), God's gifts and call (v. 29) and God's mercy (v. 32).
The Gospel
Matthew 5:(10-20) 21-28
A Canaanite Woman's Faith
Verses 10-20 are a critique of the Jews' regulations about ritual cleanliness. Jesus says it's what is in our heart which counts. The early church was being criticized by Judaism and so Matthew here expands on Mark's reporting of the same conversation. He makes it a repudiation of Judaism itself.
Verses 21-28 are tough to understand. The story opens the mission of the early church into the Gentile world. It says that when we expect great things to happen in faith, they often do happen. In that expectancy God can work wonderful acts of love as Jesus did for this woman the disciples saw as a bother and wanted sent away.
Here are a few theories put forth by The Interpreter's Bible to explain the seemingly harsh words in verse 26.
1. Jesus playfully used the diminutive word for dogs.
2. He is trying to teach his followers a lesson.
3. He is testing the sincerity of her humility and faith.
4. The situation leads Jesus to act on the principle that "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34).
5. Verses 26 and 27 are an old anecdote not originally connected with Jesus at all, and have crept into the gospel tradition.
In all the above, let's remember that foremost he healed a desperate woman's daughter and Matthew seems to indicate it was instantaneous. This was the only instance when Jesus went outside Palestine and Jewish territory. Here then presages the gospel ending barriers and going out to the whole world.
Preaching Possibilities
A. There is a connection between the Genesis reading (Genesis 45:7) and Paul's letter (Romans 11:5) even though this verse has been omitted from the latest cut of scripture selection. It's an odd omission and I will ignore it and include verses 5 and 6 in the reading. "Chosen by grace" (v. 5) and "by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works" (v. 6) are just too good not to share!
Retelling the Joseph story and how he graciously forgave his brothers and gave them good land to boot, then moving to Paul's insistence that we have God's grace too will work. We have offended like the brothers and God forgives like Joseph. We are the remnant, those whom God will save just as Joseph saved his brothers.
B. How about today's Old Testament Lesson as the text for a narrative sermon?
1. We can retell the life of Joseph up to today's account and then move to the brothers' arrival and today's story of Joseph revealing who he is. Stop there with the story and talk of the following:
a. Joseph held no hatred in his heart toward his brothers even when he had very good reason to do so.
b. Joseph went beyond what would be "just" in his forgiveness -- he gave them land in Goshen.
2. Being God's family and brothers and sisters means we too will have good reason to resent and dislike and hold grudges but we are called to a new way of forgiveness to each other just as God forgives us.
3. Joseph was graceful, God is graceful, according to Romans, and we can be graceful as well.
4. Now return to the story and add that the Pharaoh even added a bonus to these undeserving brothers. God gives us a bonus as well.
C. There may yet be a topical approach to today's readings.
1. Theme: Principles to live by for the remnant. Explain the idea of remnant in the Old Testament and New Testament.
2. First Principle: Forgive as Joseph forgave his brothers.
3. Second Principle: Be aware God called and gifted us. God is merciful (Romans 11:29 and 32).
4. Third Principle: Be faithful and persistent as the Canaanite woman was. Expect great things to happen and they will.
D. Perhaps there is yet another approach. Mercy runs through all three of the readings.
1. Joseph showed great mercy toward those brothers who had wronged him.
2. Paul says God shows great, undeserved mercy toward us.
3. Jesus shows mercy toward an outcast woman in the Gospel reading.
Possible Outline Of Sermon Moves
1. The narrative is compelling. Re-tell the story beginning with Jesus going outside Galilee and Palestine to Gentile Tyre and Sidon. Canaanites lived there and one begins to bug Jesus and his disciples... tell it in your own words.
2. Then move to the fact there have been many explanations of why Jesus seemingly treated this distraught woman so harshly. And each possible explanation provides for us a worthwhile teaching.
a. Some have felt this Jesus used the diminutive word for dogs, "puppies." He didn't despise foreigners but loved them like a puppy. It's a play on words which indicated the Jews' hatred for them was wrong. Our racial narrowness is also condemned.
b. He was trying to teach his disciples a lesson, giving words to their thoughts. He uses this incident to teach them tolerance and even love for others and so can we.
c. He was testing the woman's faith. What worked for her was that she was persistent in the asking and had faith Jesus could do it. It'll work for us also.
d. Here is a new stage in Jesus' ministry. Having been rejected in Galilee, he now gives to this woman what had been rejected there.
e. A new mission principle: God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). The gospel now goes to the world.
f. Possibly this is a story from outside Jesus' life and ministry which has crept into the gospel tradition. Maybe so -- but the reason Matthew put it in here is what's important to us. Jesus had compassion for a woman and her daughter who were outside the Jewish race. There would be no racial corner on God's mercy. Jesus is concerned about us all.
3. Mark probably told it first to illustrate the woman's humility, receptiveness, or persistence in prayer. Matthew has it an example of faith. That has a great deal to tell us also.
4. Now you might finish the sermon by describing this woman going back to her home and finding the well daughter. Imagine how she would describe the encounter with Jesus and what promises she might make, and try to get her daughter to make, as a result to this healing miracle:
a. Never to give in to any racial bigotry,
b. To persist in prayer way beyond what is reasonable,
c. To love the nearby Jewish neighbors,
d. To expect the miracles to continue in their lives,
e. To go tell of this Jesus to their Gentile neighbors and invite them to go over to Galilee if they needed healing.
5. Then for a conclusion, read Matthew 15:29-31.
Prayer Of The Day
Help us to persist in our prayers to you, Jesus, and to resist the words and deeds of racial bigotry wherever and whenever we hear and see them. And for those here assembled who need healing, bring your graceful healing power to work in them. We are not worthy but you are loving anyway. In Christ's name. Amen.
Possible Stories
I took the large bag of rice into the Brewersville refugee camp for little Carol Kollie's family who survived the murder of her father and brothers in the bush town of Degei. Her mother said she had prayed the night before that somehow God would help her with providing rice for her children or she would end her life herself. Then I showed up with the prayed-for rice. I was the instrument through which God had answered the prayer of a desperate Liberian woman. We are often the channel through which God answers the prayers of God's people.
A female patient in the hospital today said to me after a radical removal of her breast for cancer: "I prayed to God not to let this happen to me -- but he (sic) didn't hear me." Because God doesn't answer our prayer request doesn't mean he doesn't hear it.
On the CBS evening news, concerning the assistance to Vietnam refugees, the newscaster said, "Americans are suffering from 'compassion fatigue.' " Probably those who passed by the man in the ditch along the Jericho road were also. Dare we?
