St Matthew, Chapter 15,verse: 35-37a, Jesus feeds four thousand: All were satisfied.

Our paragraph topic is:  ( Jesus feeds four thousand) Part 1.

They were all in a desert place where there was not much to eat.  And the people came to him in the desert.  They came from the villages, from the towns, from districts far away.  They came into this desert place because the word came to them and told them about the one they heard people talking about.  The word told them that they would be healed.  The word told them that they would see.  The word told them that they would walk.  The word was God and God was with the people.

And they came to him that they would be filled, that they would be healed, that they would know the truth of who he was.  And Christ had compassion on the crowd.  He felt their pain.  He felt their sorrow.  He felt their love.  He knew their confusion, their loss, their fears, their hopes, and their dreams.  And he wanted to feed them.  He wanted to fill them.  He wanted to love them.  He wanted to guide them through the tricks and traps that they would face in the world.  For they had been transformed by Christ and now they would face a new world with all of its temptations.  And Christ had compassion on the crowd.  But time had not been fulfilled and the sacrifice had not been given and the absolution was not complete.

So he fed the crowds.  He gave them physical food for their bodies.  He gave them fish and bread that they would not faint on their return to their villages and towns.   And he bade the crowd recline on the ground.   Then taking the seven loaves and the fishes, he gave thanks, broke them and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd.  And they all ate and were satisfied.     

How do you see a miracle?  If you watch closely will you see it happening?  If it happens before your eyes will you know that it is?  How did the lame walk?  How did the blind see?  How did the deaf hear?  How did the loaves multiply?  Christ blessed the fish and the loaves and gave them to the disciples to give to the people.  And they eat and were satisfied.  But how did it happen?  We are spiritual beings living in a physical world.  Do we recognize who we are?  Do we know that we are spiritual beings in a physical shell?  Are we aware of our spiritual nature?

Christ told us in the New Testament how to see ourselves.  He told us how we should look.  He gave us the words that indicate how we are to know who we are.  Yet, we live in a physical world not knowing that we are spiritual beings.  We strive for physical things not knowing that they are not eternal.  And we are unaware of the spiritual things that are eternal, everlasting, God given.  And we ask God  to help us in this physical world not knowing who we are.  Christ wanted to feed the crowd because he had compassion.  He wanted to give to them eternal food that would sustain them in this world, but the time was not fulfilled, the sacrifice was not given, and the absolution not complete.

Today, the sacrifice has been given, the time has been fulfilled, and the absolution is complete.  We are reborn in his image that we may share in eternal life with Christ.  But how can we share in something that we do not know?  How can we share in something that is hidden from us unless we seek it, find it, and know it to be true.  The miracle awaits those who seek it.  The knowledge awaits those who search for it.  The treasure is buried for those who want to find it.  And when it is found one will sell all to own it.  For Christ has completed the miracle.  The food awaits us.  Come!  Recline and partake of the the spiritual food that will awaken the spiritual life in you. 

Come! Know the truth of who you are. Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ.   Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.   Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding.   Read it for knowledge.   Read it for faith.   Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you.   Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in!

St Matthew, Chapter 15, verses: 21 - 22, The Lost Children of God: The Canaanite Woman.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The Canaanite woman) Part 1.  

Jesus left the land of Genesar and traveled to the district of Tyre and Sidon where he stayed and taught the disciples and the people.  The word spread.  The word was spoken of his greatness.  The word was heard by many far and wide that knew him not, but heard of his deeds.  And many came to be a witness, for themselves, of the truth that was taking place in their time.  For others did not believe.  Others scoffed at the idea.  Others ridiculed the word.  Others warned of fake and fraud and forgery and trickery.  And others persuaded the people that no such person existed that could give them hope.  For evil was at work in the land.  Evil possessed the people.  Evil turned their minds and their hearts that they did not believe the Messiah had come.  Their eyes did not see, their ears did not hear and their hearts were closed less the word would enter them and they believed.  

And yet there were those, lost children of God, that did believe.  There were those, the lost children of God, who heard the word.  There were those, the lost children of God, who had a ray of hope when the word entered and sparked new life.  And evil would not relent.  Evil would not pass.  Evil would not yield until the appointed time.  For evil possessed the people and held them within its grip.  And no one knew of the hope that would rid them of the evil. 

And so, the Canaanite woman came.  And so, she was filled with hope.  And so, she knew the truth had come.  She would not be turned, she would not be deterred, she would not relent, she would not accept defeat, she would not give up to the evil that had possessed her daughter and taken over her body.  For she knew that the time had come.  She knew that the Messiah had come.  She believed that he was the one who would defeat the evil that was in her life and the life of her daughter.  So, she came out to meet Jesus and to plead for his help.   And leaving there, Jesus retired to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  And behold, a Canaanite woman came out of that territory and cried out to him, saying, "Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David!  My daughter is sorely beset by a devil."

Does the Canaanite woman cry out today?  Can you hear her crying for her children?  Can you hear her weeping for the lost children of God?  For they are blind.  They are deaf.  They are hungry.  They are dirty.  They have no place to sleep.  They are possessed of evil that turns them away from society to seek their own survival.  And the evil stalks them day and night without relenting.  They know no rest.  Who would weep for them? Who will care for them?  Who will feed them.  Who will give them the true spiritual food that they need to renew the life within.  Physical food will not suffice.  Only the spiritual food that Christ brought will heal, will save, will conquer, and will give new life. 

The Canaanite woman came.  She came because she heard the word.  She came because she believed.  She came because she knew that this Christ was the answer to her prayers and she would not be deterred.  She would not be turned.  She would not be changed.  She knew that her prayers had been answered.  So, she went out to meet him.  She went out to see him.  She went out to know him that her prayers would be answered.  And she cried out to the Lord.  Save my daughter.  Save my child.  Save my beloved, for she is beset by a devil.  Who will cry out for the lost souls of today?  Who will weep for those possessed of evil?  Who will pray for them?