176 Even the Dogs Eat the Crumbs A Guided Christian Meditation on Matthew 15:23-28

176 Even the Dogs Eat the Crumbs A Guided Christian Meditation on Matthew 15:23-28

I'm Chaplain Jared and I work as a hospice chaplain and an ICU chaplain, my purpose in making this podcast is to help you find more peace in your life and to be more open for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God. By using centuries old form of Christian Meditation named Lectio Divina:

Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization.

Get into a place where you can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tensing or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable to do so, I invite you to close your eyes.

Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation:

Breathe and direct your thoughts to contacting God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate.
Bible verses for Meditation:

NIV
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

NRSV
23 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.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Meditation on Scripture:

Few things are as delicate, yet resilient, as human pride. In this passage there is an interesting and somewhat confusing exchange that goes on between Jesus and this Canaanite woman. She was an outsider, someone who was not of the people chosen by God. In the account of this story that remains with us we do not understand everything about the situation. Many people spend a lot of effort and time trying to explain away Jesus’ response in these verses, yet as they remain, people interpret them differently.

Anyone who has written enough emails, or text messages knows the danger of miscommunication. Many times what is received is much different than what is intended. Sometimes we interpret malice where none was meant. Yet when this happens we rarely see ourselves in the wrong. Yet here this woman is begging Jesus for help and he provides her with a response that could have easily been interpreted as scorn or hate. She chose to look past that for the saving power she was duplicating.

How many of us have been harmed by someone at church? How many have heard some word from a pastor or fellow believer and had our church participation affected based on offended pride. In an age when there is so much offense given and taken we can seek to know God’s desire for us. We can overcome our human feelings that drive us away from God and from each other in church. When we are called dogs or the equivalent we can keep our focus on what is truly important, the saving power of Jesus to help us overcome sin and death.

Meditation of Prayer:

Pray as directed by the Spirit.

Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him.

Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm:

I invite you to sit in silence feeling being patient for your own faults and trials.
Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life:
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Updates:

Final Question: Why do you take offense?

Final Thought: Earlier today I was with a chaplain friend of mine and we encountered someone who was wearing a clothing item with a particularly provocative and inappropriate message on it. Somehow in the small talk it came us and the person was somewhat apologetic about it. His response was “Its OK I happen to be a sinner.” When others try and give offense, or do it on accident we can take the mindset that this all works together for our good and helps us appreciate the saving power of Jesus.

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