An Excerpt from a Sermon by The Most Rev. John T. Cahoon, Jr.
Metropolitan, Anglican Catholic Church
given at St. Andrew& St. Margaret of Scotland
on Lent II, February 28, 1999
The woman in today's Gospel wants Jesus to cast a devil out of her daughter. His first response to her is silence. After she tries to get the disciples to help her, they ask Jesus to get rid of her because she is bothering them. He says, "She's a Gentile, I am here for my fellow Jews" -- just another way of putting her off.
Then she throws herself on the ground in front of him and says, "Lord, help me." He not only rejects her again, but also insults her in the bargain, saying, "it wouldn't be right to take what belongs to God's children and give it to a dog like you." She comes right back and says, "Even dogs get to eat what falls on the floor from their master's table."
Jesus acknowledges her persistence and rewards it, saying, "You have a lot of faith--you can have what you want." So her daughter was healed at that very moment. The story also raises some issues about cleanliness and uncleanliness; the relationship between Jews and Gentiles; and the differences between Jesus' mission and the mission of the church, but let us stick just now to the issue of prayer.
Do you pray at all--except in church--if then? I believe it is true that there are no atheists in foxholes and that there will be prayer in the public schools as long as there are final exams. But Christians are supposed to pray on a regular basis--not just when we are in dire straits and everything else has failed. Daily recitation of the Lord's Prayer--actually thinking about the words and consciously directing them to God--is the barest minimum and the best way to start.
Jesus uses the story about pounding on your neighbor's door at midnight to make some points that go along with the need to persist in prayer. He says flatly that there is no such thing as an unanswered prayer. When people say, "My prayer didn't get answered," what they usually mean is, "I didn't get exactly what I wanted."
You may not get what you want, and God may make you wait around awhile before he gives you his answer, but he always answers your prayer one way or another. Jesus says, "Everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."
Jesus goes on to reassure us that when we ask for anything for ourselves or for someone else, God answers by giving us what is best. He asks, "If your child comes to you and asks you for some bread, you wouldn't hand him a rock would you?" Of course not. So if even human parents know to give their children good things, how much more can we trust our heavenly father to give us what is best for us?
Jesus uses the story of the judge and the widow to underline the point that we should persist in praying and never give up until we get an answer. The story also teaches that some day God will avenge us and take us to heaven, just as the judge avenged the widow in court. We should not think that he is going to stall around forever and never come back.
One of the ways to examine your conscience when you prepare to receive Holy Communion is to take an inventory of your relationships with the most significant people in your life. How might the relationships be improved? What forgiving do I need to do? How might I act more charitably--that is to say, truly helpfully--toward them?
But it is at least as important to take stock of your relationship to Jesus. Do you really know him? Is he an every-day companion, or someone you look at once a week at the most and then from a fairly safe distance?
Entering into a relationship with God is like starting a relationship with another human being. You've got to spend time together. You have to talk openly. Our side is prayer. His side is the Scriptures and the things that happen in our daily lives and his replies to our prayers.
Lent is the time to get serious about all this. Jesus asks, "When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"
All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee
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Services & Events
This Saturday, Men's Breakfast & Bible Study, 8:30 AM, Breakfast by Chef Extraordinaire Claude Crump (and maybe great grits by Fr. Roddy), great fellowship and Bible study with Fr. Roddy
Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland)
Sunday School, 10:30 AM
Nursery 9:00 & 11:15 Services
Wednesday, Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing
Stations of the Cross and Lenten Suppers – Every Friday at 7:00 p.m. during Lent. If you can provide a soup and bead supper on one of these Friday evenings, please so indicate on the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the undercroft
March 21-22, DMAS Lenten retreat, All Saints, Saluda, VA, for more information please copy following and paste into your web browser:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-laOu6ExP-PtJ5ZlKnbwMDW__NwnFBYV/view
Vestry Meeting, Monday March 24, 7:30 PM, church undercroft
CURRENT LlST OF NEEDS FOR MaRIH CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER
Supplies are low and the need is very great and urgent this time of year. With its all volunteer staff, the Center provides help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need. Please provide some of the items that are needed..They are very greatly appreciated. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)
Especially Needed
In Bold and with an asterisk are a critical need.
*Diapers (sizes newborn, *1, 2, 3, *4, *5, & *6)
*Lovies
*Baby wipes
*Diaper rash ointment
*Baby shampoo
*Baby blankets
*Baby bottles
*Bibs toddler
*Formula: *Simulac Advance Formula
Formula: other but not recalled
*Wash clothes
*Hooded towels
*Spring/summer clothing: 3-6 mo, 2T
*Grocery gift cards
Food Bank Needs
The food bank appreciates the generosity of our parish.Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Those we help feed are very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Current needs include the following:
canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
peanut butter
jelly
tuna
canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
individual fruit cups (low sugar)
canned fruit (low sugar)
canola or vegetable oil (48 oz)
boxed cereal (low sugar) and instant or old fashioned oatmeal (18 oz or 42 oz)
pasta (regular and gluten-free):
instant potatoes
single serving fruit juice
macaroni & cheese
soups: Chunky or Progresso,noodle soup; chicken broth, cream of mushroom
coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
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