Let’s talk about crumbs. In our English language the word “crumb” is not generally used in a positive way. An exception might be a “crumb cake”, but crumb, crumbs, or crummy, usually bring up some negative images. If you feel badly, you might say you feel crummy or if something bad happened, we would say that that was “a crummy thing to happen”. The word “crumb-bum” is an insult for a person who is considered a “no-account, useless, worthless person” worthy only of contempt. Crumbs are leftovers, those annoying bits of food and bread that always find their way into cracks and crevices in and under tables, chairs and in between kitchen appliances. Crumbs are garbage, refuse, those bits that maybe the household pets will eat or worse, bugs of some sort will get at unless you sweep it, mop it, and get rid of it somehow.
The Greek word which the Canaanite woman used in the text today is “psichion”. A word translated as crumb, but it is literally something that is “plucked off”. Something plucked off from the whole, to be discarded, and forgotten, like those unwanted crumbs under the table, wanted only by the dogs and pests.
Last week, the Gospel lesson had been the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by the Devil. Today, the theme carries over as it applies to you, me, fellow believers, and all who have faced adversity, pain, loneliness, or trouble of any kind. In this life because of sin, there are no shortages of difficulties and disappointments. So sometimes we may feel “plucked off” and crumby. We may feel like we have become crumb-bums in that we have become worthy of contempt or that we are merely being treated with contempt by. Contempt from other people, contempt of ourselves, perhaps even contempt from God. It may even seem to us like God is ignoring us and our prayers.
It may feel like in the Old testament lesson when Jacob was wrestling against God in the person of the unnamed stranger. It may seem like God Himself is challenging, tempting, and wrestling against us; that is what it almost seems like Jesus was doing with the Canaanite woman: that He was challenging her, tempting her, ignoring her, and treating her with contempt.
First, it seemed like He was ignorant of her cries for help for her demon possessed daughter, and then He said to the disciples that He was only sent for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Implying that He wouldn’t help this non-Jew. Then she finally threw herself down before Him and said “Lord, help me”. But He still did not answer her in a positive way. Jesus said to her: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
This Canaanite woman was not put off by this negative response, she was not turned off by what seemed like an insult, but instead she went with it. She admitted: “Yes Lord, indeed, you are right. Yet, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” She was saying that even a small crumb of mercy, of salvation, would be enough to satisfy, because the power and strength is in the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, Himself. That which others may reject would be enough for her. Regardless of how big or how small the serving is, it is enough to save. And so, Jesus said to her, “Oh woman, your faith is great. Be it done for you as you desire.”
This woman knew that she was a sinner. And in addition to that, she was not a Jewess, but a Gentile and could appeal to her “bloodline” and the promise and privilege of “so-called chosen people”. She knew that she deserved nothing. She was by comparison, a dog, she was a crumb-bum beggar, yet she had faith: faith that was powerful and strong enough to admit her sinful unworthiness. This is actually the true attitude of faith: humble yet hopeful.
Jesus is the Bread of life. And as members of the Church, members of the body of Jesus Christ, believers are to be part of that unleavened and pure loaf. Serving one another in humility showing honor to one another as Christ has served us. We are to be united in humble purity and holiness in thought, word, and deed, in doctrine and confession of faith. That is part of what the Sacrament of the Altar is to represent: many people, many grains, from many languages, times, and places joined into one perfect loaf through Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, and His presence.
Who of us have lived up to that in all ways? None of us. As you know, sin is unbelief. It separates us from God. When we fall into temptation, and it is usually as a result of our pride, we allow that sin to pluck us off from the loaf of the Bread of Life. When we refuse to repent, and plan to go back to sinning; when we absent ourselves from God’s Word and Sacrament by our lack of attendance in the pews, we are in danger of being those crumbs that stubbornly fall, fall far away, broken away from the whole…Tumbling into cracks and crevices, there to dry out, to decompose, and be consumed. No longer bread but refuse and the food of demonic vermin destined for the scrap heap of eternal hell fire.
You and I are not worthy to be saved. Because of our sin and rebellion, we deserve to be left to destruction and swept away, but that is not how God in His mercy operates. This is the very reason why the Son of God descended from on High. So that in Himself, in His pure human flesh there would be and could be reconciliation with God. People who had been plucked off from God by their sin and unbelief, can be restored and rejoined by faith in the Reconciler.
But in order to reconcile and gather sinners to Himself, Jesus first had to humble Himself below all other crumbs, becoming sin even though He Himself was without fault or stain. He was rejected, scorned, and cast down and accounted with sinners, betrayed, and forsaken, spat upon, whipped, and crucified all to pay the price of your sin and mine. The Lamb of God poured forth His life blood to take the punishment that we deserved.
Are you contrite over your sin? Do you realize what a crummy Christian you have been, a dog really that deserves no mercy? But do you desire to change and be changed? Then take heart. Confess your sins, admit your fault and your need for forgiveness from the Lord. Cry out in in humble faith and hope to the Lord. “Have mercy on me, O Lord. Help me!”
The Lord hears and does not forsake. Jesus by the Holy Spirit continues to call and gather you and all those who have been broken off from Himself by sin and every trouble. As you confess your sins and your need for His help, He gives you forgiveness in His Word and purifies you once more in the benefits of His cross. He casts out the demons that would possess you, for He has not forgotten you, nor has He given up on you. Continue to pray to Him as you wrestle against the results of sin in this world with all its temptation, your flesh, and Satan’s lies. Through any troubling events in this life, the Lord grants you strength as your faith is being tested and purified.
As with the Canaanite woman, the way Jesus reacted, was less for her, and more for the disciples as an example of faith that “doesn’t give up”. Faith that is grateful, patient, and long suffering. This faith can only come from the Lord. In the confession of that faith of those who have gone through much, God works through that suffering as a witness and encouragement for others to point them to Jesus Christ and the strength that we mere mortals can receive by His grace and power through the Holy Spirit. We are reminded and pointed to His ultimate suffering for us. He knows what suffering is, and His sacrifice gives us hope to attain the joy of the resurrection by faith. It is only in Him and by Him and His power, that hope can be retained in the face of any danger or kept true during times of calm and success when the temptation to forget the Lord is at its strongest.
So, in all things, at all times seek to hear His voice. Come to where He is for you. Be gathered to the whole around the cross of Jesus Christ. Eat the Bread of Life, drink His Holy Blood outpoured for you. No longer be scattered or alone but be joined to Him and to each other in faith and hope. Be made strong and steadfast in Jesus Christ so that you will not easily be plucked off again. Pray to Him. Yes, Jesus is a friend to whom you can bring all your burdens and your cares. He is also your refuge, your Savior to whom you can and should pray, praise, and give thanks. He is with you and will give you wisdom in His Word. He will give you rest, forgiveness, and strength of faith in His sacramental presence, and deliverance and joy from all that you are wrestling against now or will in the future. He has not nor will He forget you. You are His child. The sheep of His pasture. And at the last day He will gather you, me, and all believers to Himself to live in joy and safety eating at His table in His honor and glory forevermore.
In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Pr. Aaron Kangas