Sermon Summary for 2nd Sunday in Lent, 16 March 2025 Anno domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
Sermon Summary for 2nd Sunday in Lent, 16 March 2025 Anno domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
WE beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. Gospel. St. Matthew xv. 21
The Collect.
ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle. 1 Thessalonians iv. 1.
WE beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
The Gospel. St. Matthew xv. 21.
JESUS went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
The opening line of the Collect for today expresses the Reformation doctrine of the depravity of man
without Christ – we can do nothing to save ourselves, it is an act of the Sovereignty of God. The purpose of
the Commandments of God is not to our peril, but for our good. God’s cleanses the believer first in soul and
inward grace, and then in the outward living example. “Purge me with hyssop (a herbal laxative), and I
shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow (outward conduct).” Psalms 51:7 We suffer as a
result of sin and disobedience, but knowing, loving and seeking the Lord and His Word brings joy and
gladness: “Make me to hear joy and gladness; That the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” Psalms
51:8
The Epistle sets forth our present duties and future hope. How shall we then live? Two distinct properties must characterize the Christian: 1. Abstinence from sin and lusts of the flesh; and 2. Setting an example in both conduct and righteous living. Not only do we abstain from sins of commission, but also those of omission as the General Confession so aptly states. How may we accomplish such a high mark being weak in the flesh? By being strong in the Spirit.
Remember, we have perfect liberty in Christ. Our wills are changed so that we no longer desire the old sins of the flesh, but we will to do righteousness by the power of the Holy Spirit. Being possessed of the Spirit, our liberty is without limit: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” Gospel of St. John 3:8 It is the Word and Spirit that motivates every action of the believer in Christ. Not the truth alone, nor the Spirit alone – “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24
The sinner lives in sin because he does not know God. We, on the other hand, have the blessing of both knowing and loving God. “ . . . the Gentiles which know not God.” 1 Thess 4:5 So, we know the ‘how’ of living righteously by His Word by abstinence and good works; and we are told the ‘why’ in the Epistle:
1. By knowing the will of god shared in His Word and reinforced by His Holy spirit.
2. Because it is God’s Will for us.
3. Because to intentional disobey the Law of Gods brings judgment.
4. Because God has given us Commandments to that end.
5. Because God has not left nor forsaken us. He has given us the gift of the Holy spirit to fortify our faith and obedience.
In our Gospel text, we learn the power of “prevailing prayer.” Just as blind Bartimaeus could not be discharged or discouraged by attempts to hush his pleading, neither does the Canaanite woman from the coast of Tyre and Sidon. This entire event in the ministry of our Lord, I believe, is to teach us the value of persistence in prayer. It was never the Lord’s practice to treat sinners harshly, but in love and courtesy; however, He seems to ignore this woman’s pleading for her daughter. Why? He heard the woman’s plea (and actually knew her need long before He came into that region). Those around Jesus tried to hush the woman and send her away empty.
Even in that distant region, the woman knew something of Christ. She called Him Lord and the Son of David which was a precise title for the Messiah. Even a little knowledge of God will go far in bringing near the Throne of Mercy and Grace.
When the disciples proposed to send her away, Christ responded with a very telling remark: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” There is profound meaning in this remark. This woman was a gentile woman of Canaan, yet, Christ is seeking her as one of His lost sheep. All who have believed the promise of a Redeemer made to Abraham are, in fact, the children of Abraham and Israel, indeed, spiuritually. (see Romans 4:16)
But this woman will have an answer to her prayer. She came and worshipped Christ. This act was far more telling than the actions of many of national Israel. The Lord continues to allow a strong lesson to be witnessed by the disciples. The woman will not be put off even with a gentle rebuff. She pronounces the same simple and brief prayer of Peter when he began to sink in the Galilean Sea: “Lord, help me!” This little three-worded prayer can accomplish far more than the meaningless and verbose prayers of the proud and mighty.
Jesus continues to bring out the virtues of faith in the woman’s plea – not to offend her, but to reveal a mighty principle to the disciples round about. “It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs (puppies).” In a large household, it is the love of the children who secretly hand down food from the table to the puppy below. The bread the puppy receives is of the same quality and character of those at the table. To this woman, it was the Bread of Life. “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.” Profound need generates profound faith for it may be the last tool in the box for the petitioner. This revealed the whole purpose of Christ in demonstrating that faith to His disciples. “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Her faith was greater than her need, and our Lord granted her prayer of faith and persistence.
We live in perilous times of persecution, martyrdom, and ridicule of things Holy. Even in our churches, there may be those who would send us away empty, but not our Lord Jesus Christ. He already knows our need, but He seeks our faithful persistence in prayer for resolution of that need. Never give up!
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen
