Jesus and the Canaanite women by Willem van Oord
Bible readings: Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 and Matthew 15: (10-20) 21–28
Gospel Reading [NRSVA]
Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’ He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.’
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just 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.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.
Reflection: Journeying with others in difficulty
At Night Church we’re in a season of listening to people’s testimonies. This week Kay focused on Psalm 27. It says, “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock”. The knowledge that Jesus is with us, in the joys and sorrows, is powerful. We also need to be able to be a ‘safe place’ for each other, a place where people are confident that we’ll sit with them in all that they are experiencing.
On Sunday we read – and reflected on – the passage in Matthew where Jesus walks to the disciples across the stormy waters, whilst their boat had been battered by the waves for some time. Jesus never leaves us on our own when we are in trouble, yet we sometimes find it difficult to just be with people, even good friends, in their journeys of difficulty.
I heard a great programme on the radio last week about toxic positivity. It was talking about how when people go through hard times, many of their friends find it difficult, and try and find ways to be positive, no matter how bad it is. People interviewed said they wanted their friends to be with them in the pain, and the uncertainty. Of course, pray, and hope … but also stand with them in the choppy waters. Jesus invites us not into a fantasy life, but a real one.
Life in all its fullness, means the calm and the choppy. The psalms are so honest about this, which is why they are so helpful to us, whether in times of joy and celebration, or pain and sorrow.
One of the things that spending time in prayer can do is to give us a firmer base from which to operate, so we do have the ability, the grace and the wisdom not to just offer platitudes and unwanted positivity but love and quiet friendship. I love that Jesus provides us a model of determined and constant friendship and also a model of how he did it… through constantly chasing quite times with God.
Rev Jacky
CLUSTER INFORMATION & EVENTS
Celtic Morning Prayer – Each weekday morning on zoom 8:00am – 8:30am. Please email Keno for zoom details.
Fellowship Lunch at St Mary’s – Every Monday midday.
Emmaus – the group is taking a summer break and will restart on 1st September. Kevin
Night Church at St Mary’s – 6pm to 9pm every Wednesday, join us for dinner, reflection and singing. A warm welcome awaits. This is a place for everyone. Victoria
Psalm Prayer Group – Every Thursday at 11:15am we read, pray and meditate on a Psalm. Come and join us at St Mary’s. Josie
Meditation Group – Every Friday a Meditation group meets at St Mary’s church at 10:30am. This is a welcoming and supportive space for everyone in the community. Vicky
Christian Meditation and Contemplative Prayer – Last Monday of the month at St Mary’s at 6pm. We look forward to being together in silent worship. Vicky
Breakfast and Breathe is having a summer break and will resume again on Monday 7th September.
Little Lights is having a summer break.
Julian Prayer Group – The Julian Group meets at 6pm at St. Pol de Leon church on the first Sunday of the month, and online via zoom other Sundays. If you would like to attend, please email Mel at mlevesconte@hotmail.co.uk for zoom details.
Prayer Requests – If you are concerned about someone and would like their name included in the Prayer Request Group’s weekly prayer list, please do email Mel by 7pm on Tuesday evenings. If you would like to join the group and could spend a little time each week praying the list in your personal prayer time, please do contact Mel at mlevesconte@hotmail.co.uk who will add you to the circulation list. Information is not shared and members’ names are not circulated within or outside the group.
Proposed Pastoral Scheme affecting Penlee Cluster – Consultation
The Truro Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee has prepared a draft Pastoral Scheme for our four churches in the Cluster, which will unify them as one benefice. The scheme includes a number of important proposals for reorganisation and we are all invited to make representations either for or against by 14th September. Print-outs of the proposal are available in our churches and you can also find details on our cluster website here: https://www.penleecluster.org.uk/explore-our-cluster/
Holiday club
We have completed 5 days so far with 4 to go. We went on a voyage of discovery at the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum on Monday, and enjoyed filming on the beach. Thanks to Paul Tyreman for leading the tour of the museum!
On Thursday we have activities at Vertical Blue in Porthleven, including bushcraft and archery.
Thank you to everyone for continuing to donate so generously to the Holiday Club, we have been really delighted with the response from parishioners.
Could you contribute towards food costs or buy some food for us? We will need cheese, ham, fruit, baby tomatoes, cucumber, yoghurts, fruit and a few sweet treats too. Please bring these to St. Mary’s Church. Or maybe you could give a contribution towards ice cream money for days out? Please contact Jenny or Keno about any donations.
Thank you in advance for helping us continue the 13th year of Penlee Cluster Holiday Club.
Rainbow Project Team
St Mary’s church Tidy Up
Saturday 26th September 9.30-12 noon
Please come along to help tidy up the church space. If you feel you’d love to help out but don’t feel up to moving things around, please offer to come along for about 10.45 when we’ll stop for some refreshments. We’ll need tea and coffee makers, as well as people who can carry things! If you’d like to help out in some way, please be in touch. Thank you so much. Rev Jacky and Eliza
