Lent - Week 2 - Sunday

Welcome to Luther for the Busy Man.

The week of Ramanisgarh, a Sunday, our scripture reading comes from the Book of Matthew, chapter

15, verses 21 through 28.

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon, a canonite woman from

that vicinity came to him crying out, Lord Son of David have mercy on me.

My daughter is demon possessed and suffering terribly.

Jesus did not answer a word, so his disciples came to him and urged him, send her away

for she keeps crying out after us.

He answered, I was sent only to the law sheep of Israel.

The woman came and knelt before him, Lord help me, she said.

He replied, it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.

Yes, it is, Lord, she said, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's

table.

Then Jesus said to her, woman, you have great faith, your request is granted, and her

daughter was healed at that moment.

Our scripture lesson comes from the Book of Mark, chapter 7, verse 25, immediately a woman

whose little daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell

down at his feet.

In this canonite woman, we see that true faith is confidence of the heart in the grace

and goodness of God, revealed an experience through God's word.

St. Mark tells us that she had heard of Jesus, a report about Jesus had somehow or other

reached her.

Well, kind of report, without a doubt it was a good report that was being noise about,

that Christ was a godly man who readily helped everyone.

Such a report about God is real gospel and a word of grace, an awakened faith in this

woman for if she had not believed she would have not followed after Jesus.

How does it come to pass that many more heard this good report about Jesus who did not

follow after him and paid no attention to this good report?

The answer is that the physician is useful and welcome to the sick, but those who are

well pay no attention to him.

The canonite woman, however, felt her need and so she followed the sweet report.

Moses must also precede here and teach men to recognize their sins so that grace may

become sweet and welcome.

It is labor lost to portray Christ in the most friendly and lovable manner unless men

have been humbled previously by self-knowledge and hunger for Christ as the magnificat also

declares in Luke 153, he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent

empty away.

This is all said and written for those who are distressed, poor, needy, sinful and despised

so that in all their needs they may know to whom they should flee to seek consolation

and help.

Let us pray.

We know full well, O Lord, that of ourselves and by our merits we are poor, lost and condemned

sinners.

Eternal thanks and praise be to you for the sweet news of salvation which you have revealed

to us in your gospel of salvation in and through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen.

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