Sunday, August 15, 1999

Extending the Table
The Rev. Linda Carder

Genesis 45:1-15Psalm 133Matthew 15:21-28

At first it may be difficult to discern what these three passages have in common. The first scripture is the end of the Joseph story. Joseph, as you may remember was the spoiled brat son of Jacob (or Israel.) He was the one with (as it has recently been dubbed), the amazing technicolored dream coat. Some versions of the Bible refer to it as the many-colored coat, others describe it as a well ornamented coat. At any rate, the brothers are working hard, in their old dirty work clothes, smelling of sheep, sweat, and labor. This kid shows up with no work requirements, well-dressed and smelling good and then proceeds to tell the brothers that he had a dream. In this dream the brothers were all bowing down to him. These actions clearly call for an appropriate reaction, and as usual with brothers this meant big trouble. They put him in a pit, eventually sold him to the Midian slave traders who happened by, and told their dad that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

The slave traders took him to Egypt where the story is filled with suspense and intrigue. Eventually Joseph, because of his talent of interpreting dreams, prospers and becomes what we would call a Prime Minister. There is a famine, his brothers come requesting more food, and after more suspense, the family is reunited. We might expect more revenge. Instead, Joseph does not blame his brothers but sees the events as the work of God. All the family then dwells in unity. There is a great reunion and celebration. And the Psalm for today was chosen to go with the Joseph scriptures. What better way to end the story than to say: "How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity."

Then we have the story of the Gentile woman, from the region of Tyre and Sidon. She had two strikes against her. She was on the outside both as a woman and as a Gentile. As a woman she was not allowed to speak in public to a man. As a Gentile she was certainly not allowed to speak to a Hebrew man. But she does. And Jesus response does not fit the Jesus we know as an advocate for the marginalized and the oppressed. We do not want to hear his response, which is basically, "No, go away! You are not one of my people." Her response is both strong and full of humor. She bates him. The Hebrews do not keep dogs as pets but the Gentiles do. So she tells him, "We at least feed our dogs. You should do that much." Does not seem much like a story about unity and good will, does it? So how does this scripture fit?

You heard last week from Julia, that when Matthew wrote his Gospel, the Temple had been destroyed. Both the Jewish people and the new Christians worshipped there, as separation came later. All those who were not Jewish were considered Gentiles. Gentiles had destroyed the temple, so, Gentiles were more than unwanted, they were hated. But the fledgling church was beginning to expand and include Gentiles. And there were several major controversies over that. And so, this scripture would be very important to the dilemmas of Matthew’s community.

There were controversies over the eating or dietary laws. This is described in the verses preceding the verses read today. There were major controversies over whether on not new converts must be circumcised. The controversies the women were involved in were those around who would be welcome at the table and who would be healed. This woman spoke directly to those issues. She was an intercessor for her daughter. She pleaded the case that her daughter be healed.

We often think of intercession in terms of prayer. But this woman’s life and actions were an intercession. She acted on behalf of another to bring healing, to make life better, to see that an outsider was included. She put another plank in the table!

I remember my grandmother, the mother of eight and grandmother of a tribe getting ready for the whole family to come home. I was often there to help her prepare. We would pull out all the leaves that went to the table and put them in place. Then we had to go looking for another plank to make it big enough for all. When you want to include everyone, you often need to add a plank! When we lead an intercessory life, when we plead the case for one who is marginalized or oppressed, we are leading an intercessory life and we are adding another plank to the table.

If I were to ask you who you most related with in the story right now, we would probably all say, the woman. We would like to be like her. We want to put a plank in God’s table. You might not like to try and relate to the disciple who tried to make her go away. But sometimes we are like the disciples. We want to hold the status quo and keep the standards. Frankly, we do not want dogs under our religious or worship table. Yet maybe we need to stop and think when we say things like: "Well, we are New England Congregationalists and that just would not fit for us." Or "Children cannot possible understand what happens so they should not be there." Maybe we need to stop and ask ourselves, are we being disciples and chasing someone away? Is there a way we can put a plank in this table?

We are here and included at this Lord’s Table today because someone was an intercessor for us. For me, it was the person who literally picked me up off the street and took me to church, and it was those who encouraged my ordination. Who was it for you? Let us give thanks for all the intercessors who have extended the table to us. For each Lord’s Table that is extended is a promise of the great feast prepared for us at the eternal banquet hall of God’s mercy and love.

And that is how this scripture fits the others. Through intercession there is unity and love. All are included and welcome. And how very good and pleasant that is.

BENEDICTION

Go into the world to be intercessors for those who are without hope and devoid of dreams. Be bold in weaving fabric that liberates and includes. Believe and trust that God’s blessings and God’s healing love are yours no matter the boundaries. Amen

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