August 20, 2023 — Pentecost +12A — Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28

“Jesus] called the crowd to him and said to them, “Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” Then the disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.” But Peter said to him, “Explain this parable to us.” Then he said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.”] Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.”

Who deserves G-d’s love? This is the question we must ask today — who deserves G-d’s love? We all have some boundaries we establish when we think about who deserves G-d’s love. Some might say that only Christians deserve G-d’s love. Others might say only heterosexuals deserve G-d’s love. Others would say people like Idi Amin and Pol Pot or even Jim Jones certainly do not deserve G-d’s love.  Some would say only “non-sinners” deserve G-d’s love.

Well, if we believe what Paul teaches, that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of G-d”, and “There is no one who is righteous, all have turned aside” (Romans 3) well then, who is saved? If we have to earn G-d’s love by doing, acting, living, believing in a certain way — and Paul is right, then we are all doomed. If we have to earn G-d’s love  — we cannot do enough, believe enough, or live rightly enough. So, nobody DESERVES G-d’s love. And yet, here is the kicker— while we are not deserving of this love, yet, we are ALL DESERVING of G-d’s love. Can I get an AMEN?

My friends, it is time to change how we think about how G-d should love,  or to whom G-d should or should not delve out G-d’s love — that is none of our business — it is way out of our league. G-d loves us all — it doesn’t matter who we are – how well we drive — how honest we are on our tax returns — no matter what sins we have committed — what good we have failed to do — G-d loves everybody. We need to stop telling G-d how to do what only belongs to G-d.

When a sinner, or a Gentile, or some other “lost soul” says “Lord, help me”, well, Jesus confirms they enter the “no judgment zone” — period — end of the conversation. G-d’s love is for all — because G-d created all things — so G-d loves us all — period.

Now some will reject that love — but G-d still loves them, I believe that. We can go ahead and judge others — but our opinion does not matter. So why spend so much time, energy and seconds of our lives judging? Instead, let’s get on to loving, and living lives of compassion.

Pastor Dave