James 2:1-10, 14-17; Mark
7:24-37
I
always love this first Sunday of our new program year each year because it’s so
nice to see everyone and have the choir back. Lots of energy! And let me just
say right now, I know you were away a lot over the summer and couldn't get to
church, you don’t have to apologize to me at the breakfast downstairs. Blanket
absolution for everyone. If you were away, I hope it was Sabbath time for you,
time to rest and reconnect with yourself and hopefully God as well in a
different way.
And now we’re back and what a set of readings to start
off with. The shapers of our lectionary must have a wicked sense of humor. We
have this letter from James, saying it’s just incompatible with Christian faith
to show partiality to treat different groups of people differently is simply
wrong, and then we have Jesus doing exactly that, refusing to heal this woman’s
daughter because they are not Jewish. What gives?
