Second Sunday in Lent, March 5th, 2023
I have owned pets for the better part of my life. Pets are great. They are a lot of work but they provide much love and a lot of comfort. I have noticed with pets . . . . especially the dogs . . . they like to beg for food. As soon as you sit down to eat, you see those very attentive eyes staring up at you, not blinking, not moving, just staring at you to see what you are eating and see if you "drop" anything. They seem to be satisfied with any scraps coming from the table. They just wait for anything that may find its' way from the table to their mouths. Those little tails start to move around as soon as they see something coming their way. They are content with anything at all that comes their way as long as they get something.
In the Fifteenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, we hear the story of the woman of Canaan seeking a cure on behalf of her daughter. But Our Lord did not answer her a word as St. Matthew tells us. But this did not stop the determined mother. She started in on the disciples. In fact, she started bothering them so much that they soon went to Our Lord to get Him to listen to her for no other reason than so she would leave them alone. Our Lord finally did speak to her but He seemed to give her the "cold shoulder." At first He stated to the Canaanite women that He was "sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Next, He told her that it was not "meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs." To this, she responded that at least "the dogs eat from the crumbs which fall from the table." If her determination was not by itself impressive, her final response was enough to convince Our Lord of this woman's humility and faithfulness.
The Canaanite woman responded by referring to the dogs eating of the crumbs falling from the table. How many of us are satisfied with the "crumbs" that fall our way? How many of us are satisfied with the left-overs that we have? How many of us are content with the second best? So many people satisfy themselves with a wide multitude of things in this world. Some people satisfy themselves with drink or drugs. Other people content themselves with money or riches. Others crave after material possessions such as fancy clothing or video games or technological gadgets. But do any of these things truly satisfy us? No matter what we can think of, none of them last. If it's a car, for example, eventually it will break down or rust away. Same thing with a computer: it will eventually break down and you will need to get another one. Clothing will either wear out or go out of style. No matter what you can think of in this world, none of it compares to a relationship with God. In that sense, the things of this world are like "crumbs." We are like the little dogs content with the crumbs falling from the table. Wouldn't we rather have something more nourishing, . . . more satisfying . . . longer-lasting? That is a relationship with Our Blessed Saviour. All else pales in comparison. Nothing satisfies in this life like a relationship with God. So many people in this world spend their time chasing after things that seem so worthwhile to them at the time. And yet nothing is truly everlasting . . . nothing except the love of God. God's love never disappoints. God's love never ends. God's love never falls short. Stop chasing after the "crumbs" of this world. Stop being content with just "crumbs." Have a relationship with God.
In the Fifteenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, we hear the story of the woman of Canaan seeking a cure on behalf of her daughter. But Our Lord did not answer her a word as St. Matthew tells us. But this did not stop the determined mother. She started in on the disciples. In fact, she started bothering them so much that they soon went to Our Lord to get Him to listen to her for no other reason than so she would leave them alone. Our Lord finally did speak to her but He seemed to give her the "cold shoulder." At first He stated to the Canaanite women that He was "sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Next, He told her that it was not "meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs." To this, she responded that at least "the dogs eat from the crumbs which fall from the table." If her determination was not by itself impressive, her final response was enough to convince Our Lord of this woman's humility and faithfulness.
The Canaanite woman responded by referring to the dogs eating of the crumbs falling from the table. How many of us are satisfied with the "crumbs" that fall our way? How many of us are satisfied with the left-overs that we have? How many of us are content with the second best? So many people satisfy themselves with a wide multitude of things in this world. Some people satisfy themselves with drink or drugs. Other people content themselves with money or riches. Others crave after material possessions such as fancy clothing or video games or technological gadgets. But do any of these things truly satisfy us? No matter what we can think of, none of them last. If it's a car, for example, eventually it will break down or rust away. Same thing with a computer: it will eventually break down and you will need to get another one. Clothing will either wear out or go out of style. No matter what you can think of in this world, none of it compares to a relationship with God. In that sense, the things of this world are like "crumbs." We are like the little dogs content with the crumbs falling from the table. Wouldn't we rather have something more nourishing, . . . more satisfying . . . longer-lasting? That is a relationship with Our Blessed Saviour. All else pales in comparison. Nothing satisfies in this life like a relationship with God. So many people in this world spend their time chasing after things that seem so worthwhile to them at the time. And yet nothing is truly everlasting . . . nothing except the love of God. God's love never disappoints. God's love never ends. God's love never falls short. Stop chasing after the "crumbs" of this world. Stop being content with just "crumbs." Have a relationship with God.
St. Margaret Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.
NOTE: Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.
Please Join us as we gather together as God's family to: hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life. Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.
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