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A Foreign Neighbor’s Faith

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“A Foreign Neighbor’s Faith”

Matthew 15:21-28 (15:28) – July 27, 2025

When I worked as a hospital chaplain at Swedish Covenant Hospital (now called Swedish Hospital), more than 10 years ago, one of the points of working there highlighted was the multi-cultural setting of that hospital and that neighborhood. The ZIP code that Swedish is in is one of the most diverse in the country, in all kinds of ways. In terms of languages spoken, various countries of origin, differing faith traditions, and wide economic differences in that ZIP code alone make Swedish Hospital a unique place to work, of great cultural diversity.

In our Scripture reading today, the Rabbi Jesus traveled up north of the Sea of Galilee, on the border of Palestine. It was in an area called the Decapolis, the Ten Cities, which also was a multi-cultural crossing point. Perhaps not as widely diverse as the ZIP code around Swedish Hospital, but with a number of diverse cultures, faith traditions, and languages spoken.

Our Gospel writer Matthew was quite particular about how he presented the information in his Gospel, which was written specifically for a Jewish audience. Let us look at how Matthew begins this vignette in the life of the Rabbi Jesus. “Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite 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.’”

We learn a lot from these two sentences! Matthew wants his readers to know where the Rabbi Jesus had gone – into the area of the Decapolis, on the border of Israel – and that this woman who came to Jesus for help is not Jewish, but instead is a Canaanite woman – what the Gospel writer Mark in his parallel account calls a Syro-Phoenician woman.

The Canaanites were hated by the Jews, and were among those the Jews termed “Gentiles,” since they were polytheists and prayed to various gods like Baal and Asherah.

Up until this point, Jesus had ministered to very few people who were not Jewish. So, here we are, in a cross-cultural situation. Here the spotlight shines on a woman who is not Jewish, asking Jesus for help. And, help not for her, but for her daughter, who is suffering terribly! This request is familiar territory for the Rabbi Jesus, certainly!  

I have mentioned the Rev. Janet Hunt before. She tells a heartfelt story, some of which I repeat here. “Mental illness carries all kinds of stigma today. I have known this since I was a child and we experienced it in our own family. Back then it was something whose name you whispered.  I’m not sure it is so very different now.  When I was young during that time during the prayers of the church where we stood in silence and remembered people in need, I would close my eyes shut tight and silently plead for Aunt Donna’s healing. It didn’t come.” [1]
            In the case of our Gospel narrative, we are not sure what is the matter with this daughter of the Canaanite woman. Certainly, it could well be mental illness! This was often seen as demon-possession in past centuries. Mental illness carried a huge stigma in the first century, just as now, in the twenty-first.

It is Jesus’s response that is surprising. Or rather, His non-response. “The disciples, obviously aggravated by her persistence, ask Jesus to deal with her request so that they can be on their way. Jesus then explains that his mission (under the authority of God) is to call out the faithful remnant of Israel. This doesn’t deny a future mission to the Gentiles, only that for the present, ‘salvation is from the Jews.’” [2]

The all-important point of this narrative comes from this mother, this neighbor from a different neighborhood. Our summer sermon series this summer is all about Fred Rogers. He met with a lot of different people from many, many different neighborhoods. Diverse cultures, and from foreign shores, or neighborhoods, too. As this Biblical narrative continues, the woman speaks to Jesus again. “The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.26 Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Did you hear? This woman from a different culture, from a different neighborhood, had great faith! Jesus acknowledges that, and her daughter is miraculously healed at that moment! It is marvelous that this faithful foreign woman – who knew that Jesus was the Chosen One of God, and called Jesus by the Messianic title “Son of David” – did indeed have great faith!

Except, where does that leave us today? What are we supposed to do with this narrative from Matthew’s Gospel? As commentator Karoline Lewis tells us, “A lot of how we talk about faith indeed ends up being about measurement. Life’s consequences are attributed to whether or not someone had enough faith, whatever the circumstance may be. “Just have faith!” Well, how much? It doesn’t seem like a little will do. And how do you get more? Are you stuck with what you have? Are we genetically disposed to a certain level of faith?” [3]

I sometimes wonder whether I would have had even half, even a quarter of the amount of faith this Canaanite woman had! I suspect that these are the kinds of issues about faith with which all of us struggle — and which we may likely hear in the Canaanite woman’s deep, heartbreaking request. “We wonder at the faith that is already working within her.  Even though she is a Gentile, somehow she sees Jesus as having come for her as well.” [4]

At the same time, I do not want us to assume that because we do not have great faith that the Lord Jesus turns His back on us, or refuses to do anything for us at all. Which is what false teachers of the Gospel often tell their followers: “Oh, you did not receive that healing – or that answer to prayer – because you just didn’t have enough faith!”

No, Christianity is not a cheap marketplace, or a mercenary vending machine in the sky where we deposit our money and miracles and healings magically come forth. No, this Canaanite woman had faith in the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of David. She developed a relationship with Jesus. And, it all started with a mother’s willingness not only to speak, but to shout.  For the sake of love. For the sake of a much beloved daughter, desperately ill.

Our faith in God – your faith and mine – “lays claim on how you are in the world, how you choose to be, how [each of us] decide to live, in each specific moment of your life…. faith is not a fixed collection of beliefs but a state of being. Your faith is great, not because of what you do, but because of who you are.” [5]

Fred Rogers had a wide variety of diverse neighbors in Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. These were both real neighbors in the real neighborhood, and the puppets and people of the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. They all interacted with one another with kindness and respect. Fred Rogers tells us, “As different as we are from one another, as unique as each one of us is, we are much more the same than we are different. That may be the most essential message of all, as we help our children grow toward being caring, compassionate, and charitable adults.” [6]

Yes, Jesus healed this daughter of a neighbor from a different neighborhood, a foreign neighborhood. As you and I travel through different neighborhoods in our lives, we can have the same openness, care and compassion that Jesus had. That Fred Rogers had.  

Be like Jesus. Be like Fred Rogers. Go into multicultural places with openness and respect, care and compassion. Go, do that.

(A big thank you to the online resources for Mr. Rogers Day – the Sunday nearest March 20th, Fred Rogers’ birthday. These resources come from the Presbyterian Church (USA). https://www.pcusastore.com/Content/Site119/Basics/13792MrRogersIG_00000154465.pdf )

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://words.dancingwiththeword.com/2014/08/a-mothers-cry.html

[2] https://www.lectionarystudies.com/studyg/sunday20ag.html

[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/getting-great-faith

[4] http://words.dancingwiththeword.com/2014/08/a-mothers-cry.html

[5] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/getting-great-faith

[6] https://www.misterrogers.org/articles/he-helped-us-with-our-relationships-with-others/ 

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A Neighbor and His Daughter

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“A Neighbor and His Daughter”

Matthew 9:18-26 (9:25) – July 20, 2025

Welcome to the neighborhood! St. Luke’s Church neighborhood, that is.

I am continuing with our summer sermon series on Mister Rogers. You know, Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I watched the television show with my small children – all four of them, at various times. I so appreciated Fred’s gentle, caring, loving way of speaking to everyone. Not only the children. He was the real deal. Fred was a genuine, caring, compassionate person, interested in everyone and everything. And, especially in children.

We are looking at a Scripture reading today that highlights a child, this week. Actually, it highlights both a girl child and a sick, unmarried woman, two people who were second-class citizens in the society of Jesus’s day. Women, especially unmarried women, were second-class, as were children. The only people who were of any worth in first-century society were males, and especially free males who owned property.  

But, let us leave this social class commentary for another day. I want us to concentrate on, first of all, the man who approaches the Rabbi Jesus, to ask if He could come and heal his daughter who is very sick. Actually, this narrative appears in three of the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke. There are slight differences in the telling of the narrative. In two accounts, the sick girl is still living, but at the point of death. In Matthew’s account, she has already died. In any of these narratives, it is a terrible tragedy for this father.

We understand that if two individuals are eye-witnesses to a car accident, but see it from the opposite sides of the street, we will have two different perspectives of the same accident. Just so here. Just so with the three writers of the Gospels. We see slightly different accounts of the same incident. With Matthew’s account, the father comes to Jesus, begging Him to come and heal his daughter – his dead daughter.

The father Jairus is the leader of the local synagogue. Not just a common attender or member, but the leader. He comes to the rabbi Jesus for help in a time of severe need. He must have been at the end of his rope, the end of all of his resources. Except – as the leader of his synagogue, leaders are trained to be competent and in control, and not supposed to be in desperate agony or heartbreaking fear of losing a much beloved family member. In fact, Jairus threw himself at Jesus’s feet, begging Him to come and raise his daughter from the dead. “He is desperate; his love for his daughter has left him utterly vulnerable.” [1]

As the rabbi Jesus agrees and starts to go with the distraught father, we meet the second of these three people we are concerned with today. This unmarried woman has been sick for a long, long time. Twelve years. She has no standing in her community, and “apparently has no advocate to beseech this teacher on her behalf….Mark’s [account] doesn’t make a point of her impurity or isolation from the community, but because this was most likely vaginal bleeding it would have rendered her impure and, just as important, likely unable to bear children.” [2]

So, we have two desperate people. Two people at the end of their rope, vulnerable for different reasons. This unnamed woman was brave enough, desperate enough, to try to touch the cloak of this Rabbi. As she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Both of these people were seriously grieving, and were reaching out for help.

Both of these dear people – dear to our Lord Jesus – displayed tremendous vulnerability. Vulnerability was and is not a trait that is held up to be something that leaders of groups or CEOs of companies or corporations strive to emulate. Actually, Fred Rogers was vulnerable to lots of people, places and things. Willingly so. He considered vulnerability a strength, considering other people and their feelings and emotions. Just like Jesus did, too.  Fred Rogers saw the neighbor in people, just like Jesus, too.  

Mister Rogers said, “It takes strength to face our sadness and to grieve and to let our grief and our anger flow in tears when they need to. It takes strength to talk about our feelings and to reach out for help and comfort when we need it.” [3]

We are forgetting the third person in this narrative, though. The girl, terribly sick, at the point of death. It is easy to forget about her. She’s twelve years old, utterly helpless and passive, dependent on others, helpless to do anything about anything.

Here are three characters, three people that Jesus touches, heals in different ways. Life-changing ways. Which one do you identify with? “The leader who finds that all the usual advantages and experience that go with his office suddenly avail him nothing? The one who has endured much and isn’t sure she can bear any more? Or the one who is helpless, utterly dependent on others? Which one do you identify with?” [4]

It is only in our admitting our vulnerability that we are able to receive help, and only by admitting our desperation are we willing to try something, anything, that may give us hope. These admissions are not the end of the world! These admissions – these cries for help show that we are not rugged individualists, going it all alone, after all. We can show that we are part of a community, part of a neighborhood. This is a true way of showing courage, leaving behind the false culture of perfection, individualism and stiff upper lip.

This is what being a neighbor is all about, and what both Jesus and Fred Rogers advocate. Can we show mutual respect to others – all others? These three individuals are certainly from three widely different parts of society, and Jesus met them all where they needed Him most. Can we display inter-dependence freely, even call it what it is – the inter-dependence of the Kingdom of God that Jesus keeps preaching about?

Each of us has our own vulnerable, secret (or, not so secret) places inside that call for attention, call for healing and nurture and comfort. All of us have those places and spaces where we grieve and where we wish we could reach out. We all need a nurturing, healing neighborhood of trust, respect and caring.

 Can we – can you and I commit to being that caring community for others? That safe space where others who are hurting and need healing feel the trust and openness? Jesus definitely had that safe space and healing presence all around Him. Fred Rogers did, too. I strive to be that safe space and healing presence for others. See if you can be that for others, too. For all others, just like Jesus. Just like Fred Rogers, too.

And, the best part about this is that you and I do not need to have it all “together” and perfect to do this, to be that safe space. We just need to be open, willing and available to welcome all others into the neighborhood. What would Jesus do? What would Fred Rogers do? Go, do that.

(Thank you so much to David Lose and workingpreacher.org for the wonderful article on Jesus’ very busy day, https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/come-as-you-are. Much appreciated!)

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/come-as-you-are

[2] Ibid.

[3] https://www.fredrogersinstitute.org/resources/reflections-on-fred-rogers-healing-power-of-presence

[4] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/come-as-you-are

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Came to Serve in the Neighborhood

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“Came to Serve in the Neighborhood”

Mark 10:42-45 (10:43) – June 22, 2025

I’ve had a great respect and fondness for Fred Rogers, for many years. You know, Fred Rogers, of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I watched the television show with my small children – all four of them, at various times. I so appreciated Fred’s gentle, caring, loving way of speaking to everyone. Not only the children. He was the real deal. Fred was a genuine, caring, compassionate person, interested in everyone and everything. And, especially in children.

Right now, with bombings and raids and rumors of war on the minds of many people worldwide, right now seems like a strategic time for us to be starting a summer sermon series on Fred Rogers. Today’s uncertain time in history is somewhat similar to the uncertain times in the area where the Rabbi Jesus grew up and was teaching and preaching. Occupied territory. I fear that your typical person on that first-century street in Israel did not have guarantees of security or comfort in their lives, either.  

Our reading is from Mark 10, just a few verses before the beginning of chapter 11, where Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday for the final Passion week of His life. This is the very end of Rabbi Jesus’s three-year ministry. His disciples had been with Him, and learned from Him for three whole years. At this time just before the Passion week, Jesus calls all the disciples together to give them a short recap on the Gentiles—the Romans—the worldly way of dealing with pre-eminence, greatness, and authority.

I would like us to focus especially on a few verses from our Gospel reading today.  “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

If we notice, Jesus did not want to be a big shot, strong-man, autocratic leader. Instead, we see the life of Jesus as offering unique insights and inspiration to all of us. Our Lord Jesus shows us how to live as a servant leader. In His life and teachings, Jesus consistently demonstrated the core principles of servant leadership. Our Lord Jesus embodied servant leadership in its purest form. [1]

People in the first century just did not understand. Not even when the Rabbi Jesus explained to the disciples that they needed to become completely of no account, like children, they still did not have any idea of what Jesus was talking about.

What is the overarching disconnect and problem here? “Power has been the perennial problem in human history. The reality of power is complex; its use and misuse in all human, social and political relations and interactions has been a question of utmost importance for all peoples.” [2]  

I strongly suspect that Fred Rogers would have objected to have his life compared to the earthly life of our Lord Jesus. However, I see some definite parallels. It is here that Fred Rogers shines. Yes, he totally understood and appreciated becoming like a child. He became vulnerable, totally open, on a daily basis. Fred Rogers turned the power dynamics of the popular world and of politicians and of world leaders on their head. Just exactly like Jesus did.

I’m going to tell you about a church I attended, years back, while I was still at seminary. Smaller church, here in the north suburbs of Chicago. The church was going to have a clean-up day in the nursery and small children’s area, after the morning worship service. The Sunday school and children’s ministry people had been planning it for a number of weeks. A number of people had dressed for church with their cleaning clothes on, blue jeans and t-shirts. The group even sent out for sandwiches for a quick lunch before they began to clean up.

            My husband Kevin approved of the clean-up; our children weren’t that far beyond that younger age group. We couldn’t stay after service that day, but said our good-byes to the cleaners. On our way out, we ran into the associate pastor. She had delivered the sermon that morning and worn her clerical robes in church. However, she had transformed; she had changed into blue jeans and a sweatshirt. She had a bucket and a spray bottle of cleanser in her hands, and cheerfully wished us well as my husband and I went off to the next event.

            My husband’s opinion of that associate pastor rose by leaps and bounds that day. He told me how impressed and pleased he was to see that she was willing to go to work without blowing her own horn. She was willing to get her hands dirty for the church, not just look pastoral and holy up front in the sanctuary. She was willing to be a servant, as well as a leader!

            I know I have mentioned this before, in my past sermons. I’ll mention it again. Fred Rogers was not only the star, puppet performer, writer and producer of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, he was also a Presbyterian minister in the PC(USA) denomination. He was ordained into the ministry of communication to families via the medium of television. “Fred Rogers committed his life to making television programs for the very young because he saw its potential as an instrument for good as a gift. He cared deeply about those on the other side of the screen – their needs, concerns, struggles and joys.” [3]

            Years ago, I sensed that deep caring through the television, as my small children watched Mister Rogers. I rejoice that my children – and countless others – had the opportunity and blessing to meet with this television neighbor, who strove to give his absolute best in a way that young children could readily understand.

That is exactly who and what Fred Rogers was, too. Each and every day. He said, “I’d like to be remembered for being a compassionate human being who happened to be fortunate enough to be born at a time when there was a fabulous thing called television that could allow me to use all the talents that I had been given.” [4]

I do not imagine that I have one quarter, even one tenth of the compassionate skills, talents and spiritual gifts that Fred Rogers was blessed with. But, I have the ability to be my honest, caring self in my ministry with others. God has given us all the opportunity and the blessing to be a blessing to others, each and every day.

How can you be a blessing to others, today? Tomorrow? Next month? We don’t need to be television personalities or leaders on the state or national level to follow in the way of Fred Rogers, and of other servant leaders. We can also be faithful in the little things, like clean-up day at the church. How can you and I serve God and serve others, today? We are all called to serve by Jesus. Let us serve in all honesty, caring, and love for others, in our neighborhood today.  

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://chieflings.com/examples-of-servant-leaders-in-the-bible/

[2] “Minjung and Power: A Biblical and Theological Perspective on Doularchy (Servanthood),” Kim Yong-Bock, at Religion OnLine.

[3] https://www.misterrogers.org/about-fred-rogers/

[4] https://www.misterrogers.org/about-fred-rogers/

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Like a Small Child

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“Like a Small Child”

Psalm 131:1-3 – July 2, 2023

            The news of a happy, healthy birth and new addition to the family is something to be celebrated! I just got the joyful news that a healthy baby boy was delivered to one of the young people at a Presbyterian church out of state, who participated in our trip to Egypt back in March. All of us here in this congregation are so happy when we hear of babies being born! I know some people are less than excited about babies, but not here.  

            The Psalms are no different, as far as containing expressions of families’ emotions. We can find the full range of emotions in our book of Psalms, including joy, celebration and contentment with families and with children, and with babies, too.

            Our Scripture reading for today from Psalm 131 is so appropriate for our Summer Sermon series. We are re-imaging God. Seeing God from a different point of view. We will focus on verse 2, in particular. I will read it again: “I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me. 2 Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.”

            Have you – or your children, or grandchildren – had experience with a school subject that was really difficult? I know our Psalm writer was probably not thinking of school or of learning concepts that are really challenging. However, this is a way for me to zero in on the psalm writer’s meaning!

            I know I had a real block in my head when it came to certain concepts in high school physics. I had an excellent teacher! But, there were certain concepts that just couldn’t penetrate my understanding, no matter how much coaching I got from my father or extra tips from my teacher. I know I got a really poor grade that quarter in Physics.

 I felt like I was hitting my head against a brick wall. Have you ever felt like that? Most children and young people have experience with subjects at school that are really difficult. As adults, I suspect we can relate! We all have had sad or frustrating experiences where we cope with issues or subjects that are just too hard, too complicated, or too emotionally charged.

With this comforting psalm, it’s like we have the opportunity, even the permission to enter into the holy sanctuary. To come into the gentle presence of God.

We know that little babies – as adorable as they can be – are also totally dependent on their mother’s care. In Biblical times, babies would be breastfed, and a nursing infant would always have his or her mother nearby. Yet, this expression in Psalm 131 refers to a little older child, one who has been weaned. Not solely dependent on its mother for all food and drink.

I suspect most of us here, if not all of us, have memories of toddlers and small children. They were (and are!) endlessly curious about the wide world! Those same toddlers and small children get tired, and hungry, and want to rest. Where do they come at times like these? They return to the safe sanctuary of their parent’s embrace. As Psalm 131:2 says, “I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.”

As I have said in past weeks, in both the Hebrew Scriptures as well as the New Testament, the depiction of God is so often as a Mighty Defender or Deliverer, strong and powerful, The Lord is described many times in the Hebrew Scriptures as a Rock, or a Fortress. That can be helpful, especially when we are in need of Someone strong to help us fight our battles, or when we need a safe, divine Shelter to hide inside – but quite impersonal.

But, what about when some of us (yes, I include all of us here!) need our God to be something other than distant, cold, and scary? When we really need Someone warm, caring, and compassionate? Like right here, where a small child crawls up trustingly into the lap of a loving God! A loving, caring, welcoming maternal presence. That is exactly what we have right here! As the psalmist says about God’s warm nurture and care, “I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother’s arms, so my heart is quiet within me.”

Yes, the Lord is strong, and mighty, and a powerful Deliverer. And yes, the Lord is loving, caring, compassionate, and has a wonderful maternal aspect, too.

I love the way that Carolyn Brown, retired Children’s Ministry Director and Bible commentator leads us through the first verse of the hymn “Be Still, My Soul.” She describes this very psalm, and uses the words of this wonderful hymn to give us further understanding. Could you turn to hymn #455 and read along with me, as I go line by line through the first verse?

Be still my soul; the Lord is on your side.

God loves you and is on your side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Having God on your side doesn’t mean that everything will always go the way you want it to; but you can get through the bad times knowing that even in them God is on your side.

Leave to your God to order and provide.

Remember that God is in charge.

In every change God faithful will remain.

God will be with you in all the scary and unknown changes.  For children those changes include a new school, moving, the arrival of a sibling, parents divorcing, having to learn something new and hard, going away to camp or to live with relatives….

Be still my soul, your best, your heavenly friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Recall the thorny part of the crucifixion that led to Jesus’ joyful resurrection and note that Jesus is with us all the way through both our joyful and thorny times.[1]

As we reflect upon this gentle psalm, seeking what the long-ago words of the psalmist have for us, today, we come to our God like trusting children. We also seek the food and drink of Holy Communion, which we celebrate today. Praise God that we have the opportunity to lean into the loving embrace of our caring, compassionate God today and every day! Praise God whenever we are hungry, tired, lonely or scared, we can come into God’s gentle, still center.

What a wonderful gift! What a loving God. Alleluia, amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2011/01/year-eighth-sunday-in-epiphany-eighth.html