Gathering up the Crumbs
- davidwperk
- Nov 14, 2023
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Proper 27, the week of the twenty fourth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
24He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ 26He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ 27She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ 28Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 992)
AM Psalm 78:1-39; PM Psalm 78:40-72
Neh. 9:26-38; Rev. 18:9-20; Matt. 15:21-28
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ordination of Samuel Seabury. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Did Jesus have to overcome racial and ethnic and gender biases? He grew up in a patriarchal culture where women enjoyed little status and few rights. And, nonJews were regarded as unclean and outside the center of God's redemptive intent, at least for many Jews in Palestine and the Diaspora. Did Jesus simply inherit a more inclusive perspective or did he learn it through experience? If we regard Jesus as truly human and sharing our life experience (see Hebrews 2), perhaps the latter would be more likely.
We know that Jesus, at some point, came to envision a mission to nonJews. The early Jewish Christian church lived into that, according to Paul’s letters and the Acts of the Apostles. We know that women played a nontraditional and prominent role in Jesus’ life and ministry (See Luke 8:1-3). The early church practices also reflect nontraditional roles for women (See 1 Corinthians 11; Galatians 3:27-28; Romans 16:1).
How did Jesus get past those biases? Did he in fact have them and overcome them? My belief in his humanity would require me to say "yes." In today’s Gospel, Jesus finds himself confronted with both pieces of his cultural history, a woman and a nonJew. We may see some of his lingering biases and how he lived past them in this text.
He initially refused to respond to her request, saying he was sent only to the house of Israel. Then, when she persisted, he told her that it was not right to take the children's food and give it to the dogs, a Jewish slur against Gentiles (See Paul’s reversal of that slur in Philippians 3).
She continued to persist with the rejoinder that even the dogs under the table got the crumbs that fall to the floor. She refused to let go until she got a crumb, the healing of her daughter. Jesus was stunned by her faith. Perhaps an epiphany here widened his vision more fully about the mission to nonJews and about the status of women. The next passage relates a second feeding miracle, this time to nonJews (This is more evident in Mark’s account than in Matthew’s). We see here a harbinger of the church's mission to the Gentiles. Jesus heals a Gentile child, a crumb, and then four thousand Gentiles get crumbs.
How do our biases and stereotypes about others meet their demise? We relate to those unlike ourselves--the poor, the imprisoned, those with a different sexual orientation, those transgendered, those of other races--and we discover our shared humanity and our common need for God and one another. Then it does not matter about another’s class, sex, race, sexual orientation, or what their personal history may be. Then, that other person ceases to belong to a stereotyped group and becomes an individual who needs God's love and the love of others as much as do I. The Christ within can awaken us to our biases and lead us to greater freedom from them. And, he will have compassion on us as we live into our intent to be more free.
I have found incentive in one of James Hillman’s typically trenchant statements. "Ideas that we do not know we have have us. And then they shape our experiences from behind, unbeknown.”+
©David W. Perkins, 2023.
+James Hillman, Anima: An Anatomy of a Personified Notion (Woodstock, CN: Spring, 1985), p. 99.
(Note: Go to this web link and scroll down to the second entry. You will find Benedictine nun the late Macrina Wiederkehr’s reflection on this story, a very powerful poetic piece that captures the point of view we have articulated above.
Collect of the Day, Proper 27, the twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again
with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 236)
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Ordination of Samuel Seabury, bishop, 14 Nov 1784 CE (died 25 Feb 1796).
Collect of the Feast of the Ordination of Samuel Seabury
We give you thanks, O Lord our God, for your goodness in bestowing upon this church the gift of the episcopate; and we pray that, joined together in unity with our bishops and nourished by your holy sacraments, we may proclaim the Gospel of redemption with apostolic zeal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For those who suffer for the sake of Conscience
O God our Father, whose Son forgave his enemies while he was suffering shame and death: Strengthen those who suffer for the sake of conscience; when they are accused, save them from speaking in hate; when they are rejected, save them from bitterness; when they are imprisoned, save them from despair; and to us your servants, give grace to respect their witness and to discern the truth, that our society may be cleansed and strengthened. This we ask for the sake of Jesus Christ, our merciful and righteous Judge. Amen. (BCP, 823)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Matthew 15:21-28
21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ 24He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ 26He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ 27She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ 28Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.
Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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