Sermon Introduction –
Have you ever felt far away from God? What caused you to feel that way? God promises to draw you close, even in your most difficult moments. Jesus is always by your side. How can we come to trust in that promise?
Introduction to this week’s readings –
James tells us to stop showing favoritism in the assembly, treating the rich visitor with more honor than the poor one. Jesus himself seems to show partiality in his first response to the Syrophoenician woman in today’s gospel. Was he testing her faith in saying Gentiles don’t deserve the goods meant for God’s children? Or was he speaking out of his human worldview, but transcended those limits when she took him by surprise with her reply? Either way, the story tells us that God shows no partiality. Everyone who brings a need to Jesus is received with equal honor as a child and heir.
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