Proper 15, Year A                                                                  Isaiah 56:1, 6-7
August 14, 2005                                                                     Psalm 67
St. Margaret of Scotland Episcopal Church                             Romans 11:13-15, 29-32
The Rev. Linda McCloud                                                       Matthew 15:21-28 

Christ’s Own Forever

            Let’s face it.  Today’s Gospel reading leaves us a little perplexed.  The Canaanite woman – the Syrophoenician woman – comes to Jesus asking him to help her.  A lot of other people had asked for and gotten help from Jesus.  Why not her?  It’s a little hard for us to believe this is the Jesus we know.  Is this the same Jesus who fed the five thousand and healed all who came to him?  Is this the same Jesus who drove the money-changers out of the temple and declared, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?”   

            What was going on with Jesus in this situation?  Was he pulling this woman’s chain?  Testing her faith?  Was he giving his disciples an object lesson in how not to bring people into the Kingdom of God?  At the end of their conversation, in which this woman seems to get the best of Jesus, Jesus declares, “Oh, woman, great is your faith.”  Compare that to last week’s Gospel reading in which Jesus says to Peter, “O man of little faith.  Why did you doubt?” 

            Today we get to experience the joy of celebrating the two Great Sacraments of the Church – Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist.  Just to refresh our memories – Sacraments are defined as “outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means for receiving God’s grace.” 

            In Holy Baptism the outward and visible sign is water, poured over the baptismal candidate in the Name of the Triune God – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  The inward and spiritual grace is that we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection and are born into God’s family the Church.  We also receive forgiveness of sins and new life in the Holy Spirit.  That seems to me to be a very good way to start out a life.  To accept the call of God on our lives from the earliest days of our lives.   

            In her baptism today, a lot will happen to Ellis Anna Turnipseed that will take her the remainder of her life to sort out.  Her parents and sponsors will take vows on behalf of Ellis.  She will be incorporated into the life of the Church, as we also take vows to support her in her life in Christ.  We pass on to her the two thousand year tradition of the faith of the Church.  On behalf of themselves and Ellis, her parents and godparents will renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God.  On her behalf and on their own behalf, they will turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as their savior.   

In the first-century church the baptismal candidates literally faced west to denounce Satan, and then made a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn and faced east to accept Jesus Christ as their savior and Lord.  This was called repentance and conversion.   

            With the help of her Church family, Ellis will learn that repentance and conversion are a way of life for Christians.  Like the Canaanite Woman, we learn to say, “Yes, Lord” in response to God.  We also learn to persevere in prayer.  We learn to ask, seek and knock.   

            Our scripture readings today tie in beautifully with our Baptismal Covenant.  Our reading from Isaiah says that those who were not covenant people, who also love the Name of the Lord, will be joyful in God’s house of prayer.  We as a church are to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.  We are to welcome all to be joyful in God’s house of prayer. 

At the appropriate time in the future, it is expected that Ellis will “make a mature public affirmation of [her] faith and commitment to the responsibilities of [her] Baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.” (BCP, 412) Maybe at that time, or maybe before, Ellis will discover that the Christian life is an adventure.  In keeping with this expectation, I feel I must offer this anonymous poem quoted in the book Holy Sweat by Tim Hansel: 

            When I met Christ,

            It seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride,

            But it was a tandem bike,

            And I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.

            I don’t know just when it was

            That he suggested we change places,

            But life has not been the same since.

            When I had control,

            I knew the way.

            It was rather boring, but predictable . . .

            It was the shortest distance between two points.

            But when Christ took the lead,

            He knew delightful long cuts,

            Up mountains, and through rocky places

            At breakneck speeds.

            It was all I could do to hang on!

            Even though it looked like madness,

            He said, “Pedal!”

            I was worried and anxious and asked,

            “Where are you taking me?”

            He laughed and didn’t answer,

            And I started to learn to trust.

            I forgot my boring life

            And entered into the adventure.

            And when I’d say, “I’m scared,”

            He’d lean back and touch my hand.

            He took me to people with gifts that I needed –

            Gifts of healing,

            Acceptance

            And joy.

            He said, “Give the gifts away;

            They’re extra baggage, too much weight.”

            So I did –

            To the people we met –

            And I found that in giving I received,

            And still our burden was light.

I did not trust him, at first,

            To be in control of my life.

            I thought He’d wreck it;

            But Christ knows bike secrets –

            Knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners,

            Knows how to jump to clear high rocks,

            Knows how to fly to shorten scary passages.

            And I am learning to pedal

            In the strangest places.

            And I’m beginning to enjoy the view

            And the cool breeze on my face

            With my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ. 

            And when I’m sure I can’t do any more,

            He just smiles and says, “Pedal.” 

            Ellis, your life will be a wonderful adventure.  This is so because baptism leaves an indelible mark on your soul.  When you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in baptism, you are marked as Christ’s own forever.  A friend recently reminded me that the Holy Spirit plays for keeps, and it’s all good.  The Book of Common Prayer says, “Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church.  The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.”  (BCP, 298) 

            Ellis, I hope that you will make Holy Eucharist a regular part of your life.  This will help you to celebrate the mystery in your life and think about how you are connected to God in an unexplainable way.  Your baptism will happen only this once.  By definition, Christian initiation is a one-time, once and for all event.  But Holy Eucharist renews your relationship with God every time you receive the bread and the wine – the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Keep your relationship with him renewed.  Stay in love with Jesus. 

            There will probably be times when your faith will be sorely tested.  Keep praying.  Learn, like the Canaanite woman, to say to Jesus, “Yes, Lord.”  I hope you will learn to hear our Glorious Lord Jesus respond to you, “O woman, great is your faith.”