“WHOLE: FROM THIS VERY HOUR”
Saint Matthew 15: 21-28
Reminiscere: 13 March Anno Domini 2022
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
It’s good news, really good news, that The Lord went to the pagan Gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon. That in and of itself is Gospel—Christ seeking and saving the lost. It’s good news, really good news, that The Lord went to Spain and England and Germany, and then to the western hemisphere and all its pagan Gentile regions. Where goes The Word there goes The Law, to be sure, but also The Way, The Truth, and The Life—The Gospel!
No woman of Canaan (a Syro-Phoenician) and no woman of Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois, New York, Puerto Rico, Missouri (pick the spot) would ever go out and cry unto Jesus, had Jesus not already drawn her out by The Word—His Word—He, THE Word!
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” [Jn. 15.16] and, “neither knoweth any man The Father, save The Son, and He to whomsoever The Son will reveal Him,” [Mt. 11.27b] and again, “no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father” [Jn. 6.65].
The woman didn’t choose anything and she gets no bragging rights. Nor do any Christians. God does the creating, the saving, and the spreading of The Gospel. The Word, even if it was initially only the miracles, signs, and healings that The Rabi from Nazareth was performing, worked. The Father’s sending of The Spirit, and The Spirit’s delivery of The Word, worked faith.
That faith wasn’t kept bottled up or hidden under a bushel. She cried out in pain, and raw emotion the Kyrie: “have mercy on me, O Lord.” That’s what you sang before the collect. That’s not a further confession of sin; it’s a plaintive cry for help, to be sure, always help against future sinning, yes; but more so a prayer for intercession, healing, release from bondage to Satan, the world, and the flesh.
This woman’s young daughter was blighted with all three of this unholy, loathsome, anti-trinity: “my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.” Is there any Christian parent, heck, ANY parent that doesn’t relate, resonate, and ache with someone in that situation? Are you in that situation? Yes and no. We are grateful to God that we are not demon-possessed. But we are sick; we suffer from illnesses and diseases; we are buffeted by temptation to our bodies, minds, and emotions. And yes, we, all of us, are “vexed with a devil.” This is why you stay IN THE WORD. This is why, and not just during Lententide, you read and meditate daily upon the Holy Scriptures. This is why you come to The Mass to receive The Savior’s Body and Blood—His Atoning Word in The Flesh (and Blood). This is why you daily remember your + Baptisms; why you make that Holy Sign of The Cross when you confess to the demons WHO it is that’s “got your back.” This is why you pray nightly: “let Thy Holy Angel be with me that the wicked foe may have no power over me.”
As you sang last Sunday: “he’s judged the deed is done; one little word can fell him,” the devil and his flunky devils/demons are dangerous and produce incredible destruction when given free reign. But Jesus has won. Jesus has suffered the pain, humiliation, and death, upon the cross.
He hadn’t endured His passion yet when He came to Tyre and Sidon; when He came to the woman. But what was going to happen at Calvary—He let happen, in an opening “salvo,” foretaste, kind of way that momentous day in our text.
He spoke The Word and exorcised the demon; He healed, liberated, set-free, loosed, the young girl. He gave a “Peace that passeth all understanding” to the believing mother; total awe and astonishment to the “12” and all the other disciples gathered around the whole messy affair. The strong man was bound and his goods, his captive prize, was plundered by our good and gracious Lord.
Believe in This Man Christ Jesus—This God—Christ Jesus. Trust that He will heal you in all ways that you need to be healed in; either now, later, or hereafter. Know that He is good and That He is True. Have patience, during Lent, during life. Let no one send you away; not sub-standard pastors, hypocritical parishioners, persecuting non-believers, or even time itself. Time drags on and then speeds on. Many of your petitions for mercy are seemingly not met, not fulfilled. You pray for release and you remain assaulted, wounded, and wallowing in pain and grief. Yes. This life under the cross is neither pretty nor peaceful (from a physical and worldly perspective). But by The Holy Ghost you remain obdurate, inflexible, adamant, and immovable in your gift of faith, in The Christ for You. You say: “Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their Master’s table.” You trust and wait for Jesus to be Jesus.
Today! Now!
Not dogs but children of God, Royal Priests, eat not the crumbs, but the Very, True, and Real Body and Blood of He Who makes you whole from this very hour!
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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