St Matthew, Chapter 15, verses: 27, The Lost Children of God: The needs of the children.

Our paragraph topic is: (The Canaanite woman) Part 6. 

Christ said it is not fair.  Christ told the Canaanite woman that it was not fair to take the children's bread.  It was not fair to not care about the children.  It was not fair to have a selfish attitude without consideration of one's actions.  It was not fair to take and take and take no matter who one took from, including children.  It was not fair Christ told the Canaanite woman to have such an attitude, to be so careless, to be so self absorbed, to be so selfish, and yet she pleaded with Christ for help.

She believed that her daughter could be saved.  She believed that Christ could save her.  She believed that he was the one, out of all the others she had sought for help.  She knew within herself that he was the one.  And she came and cried out.  She pleaded with the disciples.  She begged for help and Christ did not answer her because he knew what was in her heart.  He knew of her carelessness.  He knew of her deeds.  He knew of her attitude.  And he did not answer.  But that did not dissuade the Canaanite woman.  That did not turn her around.  That did not stop her from pressing on, from continuing to believe, from having no doubts as to the help that Christ could provide.  And Christ told her that it was not fair to take the children's bread and cast it to the dogs.

And she was devastated.  She was crushed.  She was cast down because this was what she did.  This was her life.  This was her attitude,where she did not have any concerns about who she hurt, even the children.  And she crawled up from the depths of her soul and admitted that she was wrong.   But she said, "Yes, Lord; for even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  

Yes, Lord, she admitted.  Yes, Lord, she was wrong.  Yes, Lord, she was selfish.  Yes, Lord, she took the children's bread.  Yes, Lord, she admitted and asked for help.  Even the dogs feed.  Even the dogs have a place.  Even the dogs get the crumbs.  Even the dogs are taken care of.  Lord, I have been wrong in my actions.  Lord, I have been wrong in my deeds.  Lord, I have been wrong in my selfishness.  But, Lord, even the dogs have a place to go.  Lord, even the dogs have a master to feed them.  Lord, even the dogs eat.  Lord, let me be a dog and feed from the crumbs of your table.

The Canaanite woman believed.  The Canaanite woman knew.  The Canaanite woman sought the help of Christ.   Even confronted with her wrongs, she still believed.  She still believed that there was a place for her.  She still believed that the master would take care of her needs, even though she was lower than the dogs who feed from their master's table.  She continued to believe.  She continued to have faith.  She continued to know that Christ would see through the depths of her heart and know her change in heart.  Christ would know her humility.  For she truly humbled herself from her high status and came to see the wrongs of her ways.  She humbled herself and let go of her selfish beliefs.  She cried out from the depths of her heart, "Lord let me be a dog at your table that I may feed of your crumbs." 

Lord, may I feed of your crumbs.  Lord, may I know of the goodness of your mercy.  Lord, may I find peace at your table.  Lord, may I know that you are the master.  Lord, may I believe that you are the protector, the provider, the healer.  Lord, may I know the truth of who you are.  Lord, may I know of your love.  Do you believe?  Do you know?  Do you see that you may not be blind?  For there is one who would have you deaf.  There is one who would have you blind.  There is one who would have you ignorant to the truth.  Lord, let me feed from the crumbs of your table.  Where do you feed?

St Matthew, Chapter 14, verses: 17 - 18, The Needs of the People: Christ's Demonstration.

Our paragraph topic is:  (Jesus feeds five thousand) Part 2.   

And the disciples did not know.  They saw with their eyes, heard with their ears, but they did not perceive with their hearts.  For they had not seen of such before.  They had not heard of such before.  They had not understood of such before by any man.  Yet Christ was before them.  Christ was with them.  Christ was in them and they did not understand.  They were surrounded by masses of people.  They were with hundreds or even thousands of fellow countrymen who were lost.  There were many with needs that they could not fill.  And the disciples were overwhelmed.  And Christ saw their needs and the needs of his disciples.

Christ understood.  Christ knew of their needs.  Christ wanted to fulfill their needs but his time had not yet come, for his sacrifice would fill the needs of all mankind for all eternity.  And the disciples did not know.  For life was in Christ.  Life flowed from Christ and he wanted to give it to the people and his disciples that they would know the truth.  The people were in need.  They needed a leader.  They needed a guide.  They needed love.  They needed.   And Christ was their to fulfill their needs.  But the disciples did not know.  The disciples did not understand.  The disciples did not see the truth of fulfillment within themselves.  So they brought their needs to Christ.

But Christ told them, you, yourselves feed them.  Christ told them, in so many words, they had to power to feed the people.  Christ told them, in so many words, they could feed the people, but they did not understand.  They did not comprehend his words.  They only thought in terms of their earthly being.  They did not see the seed that was growing within them through Christ.  For he had planted the seeds of life within his disciples and growth was taking place.  Christ had watered the seeds of life and they were growing.  Christ had nurtured the seeds of life and they were growing.  Christ had protected the seeds of life within them and the evil one wanted to destroy the seeds.  The disciples did not understand.  Christ told them, you, yourself feed the people.  And they only thought with their human minds and responded with,  "We have here only five loaves and two fishes."

Therefore, Christ had to demonstrate to them what was possible.  Christ had to show them what to do.  Christ had to lead them that they may understand who they were in him.  So he told them  "Bring them here to me."  This is what the disciples had to do, bring all things to him.  Bring all problem, bring all sickness, bring all needs, bring all sorrows, bring all to him, for he would satisfy all needs.  And the disciples did not understand that the seed in them was Christ.

I found myself in a store the other day buying something to eat.  And a man was sitting at the table.  When I approached the condiments table he spoke to me.  His first question was how much was the sandwich I purchased.  I did not know because it was not an issue with me that I should be concerned with the cost of the item.  I knew that the cost was within my means to pay because I picked a place where I could buy something to eat for under $3.00.  Yet his question to me was how much did one sandwich cost.  I told him that I did not know and gave him an approximate amount that I thought it cost.  He continued to talk saying that they reminded him of a sandwich from his home town.  He was from up north.

The conversation was nothing special but what stayed with me was my reaction.  You see, I was afraid of the conversation.  I did not know who I am in Christ.  I feared that he was about to ask me for some money to buy something to eat.  I was afraid and I was only concerned for myself.  It was not about the money, it was about the need in him that I did not see.  I did not understand who I am in Christ and who he is in Christ.  Fear entered me and I was only concerned for myself.  I wanted him to ask me for some money so that I could give it to him and he could buy something to eat.  I am accustomed to giving to beggars and street people but this was up close.  I wanted to help him but I was afraid also.  I wanted him to ask me for some money that I may give it to him and then I could be on my way and not be concerned or committed with his needs.  I was selfish and only concerned with myself.    You see, I was detached and did not want to concern myself with his needs.   For concerning  myself with his needs meant getting involved, it meant getting close, it meant becoming attached.  And I was afraid for myself.

Christ is my provider.  Christ is my protector.  Christ is in me and yet I failed to be in him.  I failed to see the needs of that man.  I failed to listen to his concerns.  I failed to open my heart to his conversation that I might help his needs.  For I feared that it may concern me and I would be involved.  How do you help a person?  How do you love a stranger?  How do you fill the needs of a person that you do not know?  How do you overcome the fear of injury, the fear of harm, the fear of loss?  How do you open yourself up to a stranger?   He started the conversation and spoke out of his need.  I withdrew from the conversation and spoke out of my fear.   

I missed the opportunity to feed the people.  I missed the opportunity to bring him to Christ.  I missed the opportunity to open  my heart up to show the love of Christ in me to another person.  I missed the opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ in me.  Be open to the opportunity!  Realize that Christ is your provider, your protector.  He will provide and protect you no matter where you are or what you are doing, if you carry him with you.  Do you carry the seed within you?  Let him show you the way.  Open your heart to the opportunity and he will lead you to overflowing love and abundant life.  You, yourself, feed the people!

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 19, This Generation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The inconsistency of the Jews) Part 3. 

Christ has told his disciples and the crowd how John the Baptist was characterized by this selfish generation.  Now he tells them how they characterize him.  In those days there was no daily news broadcast, morning, noon, evening, and night.  There were no news stations.  There were indeed news anchors, those who knew the latest news and spread that news around.  For this is how news traveled in that time, by word of mouth.  And the rulers of the time paid handsomely for the latest news.  Kings and governors had their people out in the public, seeking to know the latest news so they could report back to their rulers what was afoot.  

And the people in authority past judgement on that news, which kept the people in line with their thoughts and beliefs.  They characterized John the Baptist as a lunatic.  For they said that he was possessed of a devil.  Then they chcaracterized Christ as a commoner.  Christ told the crowd,  Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold a glutton and a wine–drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners!’ 

So Christ, the Son of Man, the Messiah was characterized as a commoner.  He was put down.  He was degraded and dishonored.  He was classified with sinners and drunks.  Christ was considered like a street person.  They had to belittle him in order to upgrade themselves.  For they were the ruling class of the time.  They were the owners of property and wealth, and prestige, and great stature in the community.  They did not associate with sinners.  They did not associate with gluttons or drunks, or drug addicts, or anyone below their stature in life. 

And they did not know that the Messiah had come among them.  They wanted everyone to dance to their tune, to mourn to their sorrows.  This was the selfish generation.  And the news went out about him, despite all the miracles that he performed, all the lame that he made walk, all the lepers that he cleansed, all the blind who's eyes that he opened, and all the dead that he raised.  This is how Christ was characterized.  So Christ told the crowds.  He told his disciples.  He wanted them to know how the people of this generation thought of him.  He wanted them to see the folly of their ways.  He wanted them to know the lack of wisdom that they did not have because they were blind and could not see.

Christ said, "And wisdom is justified by her children."   For surely they did not have wisdom.  Surely Wisdom did not walk with them nor were they her children.  For the wise would see the signs.  The wise would recognize the truths that had come to pass from the scriptures.  The wise would understand the consequenses of their decisions to ignore the evidence of the times.  Widsom did not have children in this generation.  She did not give birth to the educated.  She did not bring forth the rulers of the time.  She did not give counsel to the governers and the wealthy that they my know the wrath that had come upon them.     

If Christ came back to earth today and walked among us would you recognize him?  If John the Baptist came back and proclaimed the gospel of the Lord would you accept him?  We are caught up in a whirlwind world.  Our lives take control of who we are and the world controls our lives.  On this day, during the celebration of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, will we wake up to the reality of who we are and step out of the world?  Or is this just another day in the life of a christian who dutifully preforms his or her religious functions of going to church.  Wake up from the dream world!  See the reality of who you are!  Be not conformed of this world but be conformed to the life of Christ.  For all the sacrifices that he made for you and for me, let this day not be just another yearly celebration.  Let this day become a day of recognition, a day of change, a day of awareness of all that Christ gave for our salvation.  For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.  Will you love him in return?

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 18, This Generation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The inconsistency of the Jews) Part 2. 

Christ continues to characterize this current generation because of their selfishness.  They want everyone to dance to their tune.  They want everyone to cry to their sorrows.  They want to be in control of everything.  They are selfish people who have had power to long and are unwilling to consider that the Messiah has come among them to change everything.  John preached about the coming.  The scriptures foretold about the coming of the Messiah.  Yet the Jews of this generation have their own plan and will not consider that the Messiah has come as a man in their midst to change all mankind.

They have no wisdom.  They have no knowledge.  They have no understanding, only that they want everyone else to dance to their tune and cry to their sorrows.  John was written about in the scripture.  John preached from the Jordan and thousands came to hear him.  John baptized many and preached repentance.  John paved the way for the coming of the Messiah and yet they did not believe.  Christ says that they characterized John as a lunatic.  He says,  "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a devil!" 

The people knew that John was anointed of God.  They heard him preach.  They believe that the Messiah had come.  But the rulers and the rich, and the educated, and the religious, and the Pharisees and the Sadducees did not believe.  They rationalized that John was possessed and out of his mind.  They said that John was insane and people should not follow him.  They had to turn the people least all believed in John and his teachings.   They had to do something before they lost control and the people no longer danced to their tune and cried to their sorrows.

What should I compare this generation to, Christ said?  Shall we compare them to the blind.  They live in an evil world and yet do not see.  They stumble through life leaning upon the one who lives in darkness.  They believe in their own capacity to live without knowing true life.  They cannot see the light.  This generation is like a moth drawn to a flame.  They are utterly attracted to the glitz and glamour of a world that is dying and has no life of its own.  Are you in the world?  Do you look out from your position in the world and wonder about those who do not follow your passions for the worldly life?  Do you hunger for something more than the world has offered you, having conquered the passions of this world?  Do not be lost with this generation.  Do not be blind.   Open your eyes and see the road that you are on before it is too late.  God is patient and yet your cup of wrath continues to fill.  Repent before the thief comes to steal your life.  God loves you and is merciful and forgiving.  Christ paid for your sins and will forgive all, if you just ask and believe that he will.  Come take his hand and be healed!!

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 16 - 17, This Generation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The inconsistency of the Jews) Part 1. 

Christ has just finished telling the crowd about the greatness of John the Baptist.  He called to the crowd saying,  "He who has ears to hear, let him hear. "   For he told the crowd that if they can receive it, John the Baptist was Elias who was to come.  It was written in the scriptures that Elias would come again before the Messiah.  And now Christ is reminding the crowd of what was written has come to pass.  But he stops there to talk about the people of this generation.

He says,  "But to what shall I liken this generation?"   He asked, what can he compare this generation to that the people might understand.  The scriptures have spoken of this time.  John came and spoke of this time, but the people do not believe.  They do not hear, they do not read, they do not believe.  They are worse than unbelievers, because in the face of all the evidence they still do not believe what is right before their eyes.  You see, this is a selfish generation.  They want things to happen their way.  And if it does not come, the way that they expect, then they will not turn, they will not understand, they will not see, they will not comprehend, and they will not believe.

Christ compared them to children playing in the market who want everything to follow their plan. Christ says,  "It is like children sitting in the market place, who call to their companions, and say, 'We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have sung dirges, and you have not mourned.' "   This generation is selfish.  They want everything to go according to their plans.  They have played songs and no one has danced.  They have sung dirges and no one has come forth to play funeral with them.  They want everyone to dance their tune and sing to their tribulations.

Will we be the same generation when Christ returns?  For different from those years, we live in a selfish environment.  Everything is about us.  We want more money for us.  We want more cars for us.  We want more house for us.  We want more clothes for us.  We want everything for us and do not consider others.  We want to succeed in this world and to succeed, the world tells us that we have to look out for number one, ourselves. 

For who is going to provide for us if we do not provide for ourselves.  We are raised on the principle that makes us believe that we must be selfish.  It is a cold world out there and if you do not look out for yourself no one else will.  You will be used and abused by the world if you do not provide for yourself, is the principle that we believe.  Yet Christ came and died for all, because we could not save ourselves. 

Are you a selfish person?  Do you have to have things your way?  Must the world dance for you and cry for you when you want it to?  Come, let us not be of that generation that is selfish.  Let us turn our hearts to God and love each other as we love ourselves.  Let us open our minds and open our hearts and open our eyes to see that we are all children of God, created in his image no matter what color, what shape, what hair, what eyes, what background, what income, what ever we use to categorize ourselves that we may segregate and make comparisons.  God is our father and we are his children.  We are all his creations, children of light.  So let us love one another as he loves us.  We are spiritual beings in a physical body that is dying before our eyes.  What we see before us is not who we are, and who we are today is not who we will be in heaven.  Put off the cloak of selfishness and put on the cloak of love and you will understand who you really are.