Sunday, March 16, 2025

Reminiscere - The Second Sunday in Lent



 Jean Germain Drouais: The Woman of Canaan at the Feet of Christ

Hymn # 145       Jesus Refuge of the Weary - Savanarola          
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies and Thy loving-kindnesses: for they have been ever of old.
Let not mine enemies triumph over me: God of Israel, deliver us out of all our troubles.
Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul: O my God, I trust in Thee; let me not be ashamed.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who seest that of ourselves we have no strength, keep us both outwardly and inwardly 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, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Gradual
The troubles of my heart are enlarged: 
oh, bring Thou me out of my distresses.
V. Look upon mine affliction and my pain: 
and forgive all my sins.
Tract. Oh, give thanks unto the Lord; f
or He is good: for His mercy endureth forever.
V. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?
Who can show forth His praise?
V. Blessed are they that keep judgment: 
and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
V. Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that 
Thou bearest unto Thy people:
Oh, visit me with Thy salvation.
     
The Gospel              
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22

Sermon Hymn #508          Thou Whose Almighty Word      

Crumbs from the Table
 

Hymn #
457          What a Friend We Have in Jesus              
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31

Hymn # 50      Lord Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing




Prayers and Announcements

  • Medical care - Sarah Buck, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Doc Lito family.
  • Tornado damage in St. Louis, not in NW Arkansas but in NE Arkansas.
  • Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM Reformation Seminary lectures, John. Zoom.
  • Wednesday, 7 PM - Midweek Lenten service, Zoom.
  
Lutheran Library - Gerhardt's Biography

KJV 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then 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. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God,even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 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. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 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. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table. 28 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.

Second Sunday In Lent

Lord God, heavenly Father, grant us, we beseech Thee, by Thy Holy Spirit, that He may strengthen our hearts and confirm our faith and hope in Thy grace and mercy, so that, although we have reason to fear because of our conscience, our sin, and our unworthiness, we may nevertheless, with the woman of Canaan, hold fast to Thy grace, and in every trial and temptation find Thee a very present help and refuge, through Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

He Answered Not a Word

KJV Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 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.

This is an important lesson for all of us, because we find ourselves in similar situations - having a great obstacle, difficulty, or anguish with nothing to help us. This woman is a pagan, which is reflected in one phrase - a woman of Canaan. She is not Jewish, not descended from Abraham the Father of Faith, but calls out to the Son of David. The disciples are not likely to be much help with Jesus silent.

Hundreds of books describe Jesus as a miracle worker (yes or no, often described today as a no, as "scientifically wrong," or a result of attitude and nothing more). But this passage is about a woman's faith, not only that - but even a person who seems to be unfit to have a miracle.

One of my students told me about the magic of rallies where the entire stadium whoops it up and buys whatever package is being offered to EVERY.SINGLE.ONE! He said he would drive to these events with just enough money to get in and a driver's license. He said, "Don't do it with anything more in your pockets. No credit cards. No extra cash. You will be so worked up that you will fall for it, and it is really a rush." This is copied by many "evangelicals" who promise similar thrills and get subsequent crashes. Denominations dredge up the miracle of the year, which they just borrowed from Schuller or Willow Creek or Fuller or "fill in the blanks." Thrivent spent a fortune on LCMS-WELS-ELCA doing this and publishing yet another flop.

The woman's daughter was suffering terribly in pain from a devil. 

23 But he answered her not a word. 

Here we have to stop and take notice. Jesus did not answer a Word. This is a miracle of faith in Him

This Gospel presents to us a true example of firm and perfect faith. For this woman endures and overcomes in three great and hard battles, and teaches us in a beautiful manner the true way and virtue of faith, namely, that it is a hearty trust in the grace and goodness of God as experienced and revealed through his Word. For St. Mark says, she heard some news about Jesus, Mark 7:25. What kind of news? Without doubt good news, and the good report that Christ was a pious man and cheerfully helped everybody. Such news about God is a true Gospel and a word of grace, out of which sprang the faith of this woman; for had she not believed, she would not have thus run after Christ etc. In like manner we have often heard how St. Paul in Romans 10:17 says that faith cometh by hearing, that the Word must go in advance and be the beginning of our salvation. Luther's Sermons, Lenker, Reminiscere.

Luther said about the Reformation - candidly - "I did not do anything. I just preached and wrote." That statement is true and yet baffles all the great denomination leaders today. Those so-called leaders do not have a clue about this lesson on trusting in Jesus Christ. 

And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

One way to look at this is the disciples ordering Jesus to give her the miracle and send her away. Yes, she was a pagan - but Jesus could quiet her and give the distant daughter the blessing of a healing. The disciples wanted some peace!

Face a serious, painful, threatening illness - and people will offer a variety of solutions. What about year after year with a host of therapies? The insta-therapy may not work at all or only work a short time. 

One of the great benefits of the Christian Faith is having a group of believers who comfort and encourage others. And that faith moves to others through the Word. Healing is not always physical. There are also blessings of peace, courage, etc. 

24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 

But, oh, how painful it is to nature and reason, that this woman should strip herself of self and forsake all that she experienced, and cling alone to God’s bare Word, until she experienced the contrary. May God help us in time of need and of death to possess like courage and faith! Luther, Reminiscere, Lenker.

We are all weak at times. We cannot pick up courage or humor or patience at once. That is why so many have dust-covered dreadmills, or weights, or promises to walk a mile every day, or read a book. The focus of this miracle is trust in Jesus Christ, and that too requires endurance, strength, patience, calm, and the love of the Good Shepherd. She said in midst of turmoil and thinking about her daughter, "Lord, help me."

It is a great wonder to see that take place, moving from the darkest dark to the light. My wife and I knew what was coming and we talked about it all the time. 

26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

There is some confusion about dogs in the Gospels. The roaming dogs licking the wounds of Lazarus were scavengers, and that was the best he could get for his starving. In this interchange between Jesus and the Canaanite woman, the dogs are the household pets who vacuum the crumbs that fall from the master's table. This is a miracle where we go over the details in a few words and watch the Word develop those simple words across the centuries.

28 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.

Unbelievers, rationalists, dabblers, and people who "lost their faith" are going to miss this miracle for various reasons.

Your faith can only belong to you. It transfers and spreads from one heart to another. It is off-course to say "I wish I had your faith." Wishes seem to be a bit fortune cookie talk. Faith in Jesus is generated only by the Gospel given through Him, which gives us access to God.

Your faith is generated by the Gospel Word 

  1. hearing, 
  2. reading, 
  3. remembering. 

Lacking those three will diminish faith in Jesus Christ, but using them will increase faith in the Good Shepherd.

Jesus was tempted by Satan and faced His own religious leaders with the truth (John 8). 

Luther's great genius in teaching about the Savior is the Reformer's emphasis on the primary theme of the Old and New Testaments - the Creation (John 1:1ff), His Two Natures (Isaiah), His Gospel ministry of forgiveness and peace, and His compassion for each and every one of us.