One of the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous was “Dr. Bob,” who had a desk plaque that defined humility as:

…Perpetual quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised, it is to have a blessed home in myself where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Higher Power in secret and be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and about is seeming trouble.

As in a deep sea of calmness describes what I felt in 2001 when I finally submitted to a Fifth Step. My confession spanned portions of two days, and I made it to Rev. Ron, my pastor at Faith Lutheran Church. Those six or seven hours in his office represented my first-ever religious confession, although I did so by following every instruction in AA literature. What I admitted included secrets that I had not revealed during three years of therapy, first with a psychologist, then an analyst, and then addiction counselors.

The Fifth Step is a profound equalizer. It is “the answer,” Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions affirms, describing it as “the beginning of true kinship with man and God.”

Since 2001, several men in treatment at homeless shelters or working in step-study groups have asked me to witness their private, Fifth Step confessions to God (That’s a more accurate, lay-person’s description of how confession works). And when I do that, what I witness often parallels this sum-up, aptly penned in Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions:

As the pain subsides, a healing tranquility takes its place. When humility and serenity are so combined, something else of great moment is apt to occur. Many an AA, once agnostic or atheistic, tells us that it was during this stage of Step Five that he first actually felt the presence of God.

Copyright © 2009 by Randall E. Greene

Surely, when you’re reading your Bible or listening to a sermon, everyone around you would respect what you’re doing and not interrupt you, right? Eheh. Not really (at least, not in my case). My expectation for others to shush and not interrupt me while I’m listening to a sermon or reading my Bible or some theological book has led me to disappointment…and a sinful attitude toward those who, in my mind, aren’t showing “due respect” like they “should be”.

This is something I’m currently struggling with. I am so prideful to think that everyone should yield to me and what I’m doing. Sigh. Need to work on humbling myself before others.

Obviously, I’m listening to sermons and reading my Bible to learn, to change for the better. When I respond improperly when I’m interrupted, my siblings are going to learn to hate it when I am reading my Bible or listening to a sermon.

A young child asked his friend if his mother was going to go read that one Book that always seemed to make her grumpy.

I don’t want my siblings thinking of me that way. I want them to see change in me, and to see that the Word of God does change people, and encourage them in the Lord and to read the Bible themselves.

If my siblings need something and they interrupt, I must be gracious and stop what I’m doing immediately to serve them (or to listen to them play their song on the violin). I have time to re-read that last verse. I have time to pause the sermon. I just need to work on not getting irritated and humbling myself before others.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4

“With all due respect……”

“I’m sorry, but…….”

“Look, I just want to say…….”

These are the phrases that when we hear them spoken, make us want to lovingly reach through our television screens and strangle whoever it is that has just uttered them!

I have a word for these phrases. Collectively I call them “winders” in that whenever they are used, someone is going to wind up becoming distinctly wound up!

A winder can be defined as any phrase that belittles the person against whom it is aimed. It suggests an air of smug superiority on the part of the individual who has used it, and if you listen carefully as the winder is delivered, you will hear that is accompanied by a slight sigh, as the deliverer condescends to be involved with such a lesser mortal.

Winders, in presentations, are bad news! There can be no quicker way to completely lose the support of your audience than to irritate them. So, how to avoid such a mistake?

First, know what are the phrases that act as winders on you! If they annoy you, there is a strong chance that they annoy others. Try listening to politicians being interviewed on the radio for an endless supply! The time that you are most likely to hear them is if the interview is not going well, and the politician suddenly feels the need to defend themselves. It is in this heat of battle context that the winders come exploding forth!

Secondly, approach audiences or interviewers with a sense of humility. If the audience feels that you respect them, then there is a significantly lower chance that they in turn, will do anything to provoke you. With fewer provocations, come fewer winders!

In this final point we can see something ironic within the nature of the winder. We use them when someone else has already provoked us into doing so. Frequently, the intended victim well and truly asked for it, deserved it, and got it….. right between the eyes! It is not however, from this deserving victim that the presenter will them find themselves damned; it is from the wider audience! Like the sound of fingernails being dragged down a blackboard, winders not only affect those at whom they are aimed, but also affect everyone within hearing distance.

Verbally, they are weapons of mass destruction, and as with all WMD’s, they are best kept out of commission!

I live my life by the stories I’ve been told. Maybe it’s like that for most people- I don’t know- but it’s certainly like that for me.

Like the stolen lunch story. When I was in grade two, no matter how quickly I rushed to the coat room at recess and at lunch, I could never get there before the kid who stole part of my lunch. Of course, this kid didn’t bother with my canned meat sandwich or my apple. He (or she for that matter) made off with my Wagon Wheel, a nutritional atrocity popular in Canada in the 1970s that was the highlight of my day. I couldn’t tell the teacher. This was a catholic school staffed by women married off to Jesus by their families, nuns and former nuns who, by the 1970s, were in the full bloom of their bitterness and contempt. The best way to survive was to slip between the wall and the paint.

But eventually, I did tell my mother. Her plan for this situation was simple: she would pack me a double lunch. One for me and one for the kid who was so hungry that he had to steal it. And I was not to say a word.

I told this story to my therapist once. It was to have been a demonstration of the values I grew up with and the aspects of my family culture that I admire the most. You help others. And you do it quietly, with no regard for recognition and without singling them out. My therapist listened and validated all of that (they learn to do that in therapy school) and then she said, softly, “But you didn’t get to choose. You had to have your lunch stolen every day.” Beware the things your therapist says softly -  they are the ones that turn your perceptions inside out.

My mother found a way for me to help a hungry child without humiliating him. For a woman who grew up being mocked by the rich girls in town for wearing their cast-off clothes, that was an important lesson, and I am grateful that I learned it.  It’s just that like many of the lessons that we learn in life, there is a message underneath: You don’t get to choose. And that other kid’s feelings are more important than yours. In a world that organizes suffering as a competition (you can’t cry because you have no shoes when you’ve met a man who has no feet), my feelings could never be important at all.

If this were happening to my daughter, I would probably pack a double lunch too. What’s the alternative? Launching an investigation to identify and humiliate the kid who is hungry so that we could offer above-the-board help? But I hope that I would find a way to make it her choice, to allow her to feel proud of that, and to acknowledge that it sucks just the same to be ripped off every day.

This whole lunch business is the story I have been told. I have only hazy, terror-soaked memories of that school, but in my family – and probably in most- the story is more important than what happened. The story, the anecdote elevated to the level of myth, is what you live your life by. But at this point in my life, I need to find a new one. I won’t throw away the stories that have made me who I am, but I need some way of looking at the world that lets me help others without losing myself. Because I believe that in the long run, you can’t save the world if you lose yourself.

I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of humility. I remember reading the beatitudes as a child and wondering how to be “poor in spirit” and “meek.” Throughout my life, I’ve tried very hard to be humble. I never brag about things. I hate even talking about my accomplishments. Oftentimes, in order to ensure that I don’t appear proud or that I don’t consider myself better than others, I run myself down to myself and to others. I know there are some things I’m not very good at – I’ll probably never be a professional musician, for example. However, I also know that I am good at some things, like school. However, I always try to appear stupid.

So I tried to gather quotes that would help me learn the true nature of humility, rather than self-deprecation:

Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts.  It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.  ~William Temple

Humility is to make a right estimate of one’s self.  ~Charles Haddon Spurgeon

It is always the secure who are humble.  ~Gilbert Keith Chesterton

We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all.  ~François Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maxims

“True humility is not an abject, groveling, self-despising spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us.”— Tryon Edwards

“The Enemy wants to bring the man to a state of mind in which he could design the best cathedral in the world, and know it to be the best, and rejoice in the, fact, without being any more (or less) or otherwise glad at having done it than he would be if it had been done by another. The Enemy wants him, in the end, to be so free from any bias in his own favour that he can rejoice in his own talents as frankly and gratefully as
in his neighbour’s talents—or in a sunrise, an elephant, or a waterfall. He wants each man, in the long run, to be able to recognise all creatures (even himself) as glorious and excellent things. He wants to kill their animal self-love as soon as possible; but it is His long-term policy, I fear, to
restore to them a new kind of self-love—a charity and gratitude for all selves, including their own; when they have really learned to love their neighbours as themselves, they will be allowed to love themselves as their neighbours.” – C. S. Lewis (note that this is from The Screwtape Letters, written from the viewpoint of a devil, so the Enemy is God)

Jeffrey, who will be 3 on Christmas, admires his tree-decorating skills.

Holidays are wonderful. Friends and family gather, catch up on each other’s doings and growings, and partake of favorite traditional fare. What could be better? As my son-in-law Greg says, How could you NOT love Thanksgiving? You don’t have to buy anything. All you have to do is show up and eat (admittedly a man’s perspective, but lovely in its simplicity). 

After our Thanksgiving feast on Thursday and Black Friday shopping, my grandson Jeffrey helped me decorate my Christmas tree on Saturday while his mom and dad spent time with friends at the Vandals game, and Aunt Lyanne kept Jeffrey’s sister Gracelyn (13 months) occupied.

Jeffrey had the absolute BEST time. He strategically placed each ornament I handed him and chattered happily all the while. When we finished, he did what I do—and what my father did—after a job well done. He stood and looked at it. And he came back time and time again to look at it some more. He was satisfied with a job well done.

I think we’d all do well to give ourselves a bit more appreciation each day for our jobs well done. And, to give our Heavenly Father more appreciation for HIS jobs well done. We owe all we have and all we are to Him. As we enter the Christmas season celebrating the birth of our Savior, I’m thankful for the blessing He has been to me and my family. And I’m thankful for the humility that thankfulness engenders.

Psalm 119:7

⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.

Upright

Yet Advent calls us to lay down our pride and take up the humility of Christ. We’re reminded that

The Mighty One…has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty. (Luke 1:49-53, NRSV)

So, don’t give into the temptation to make everything self-absorbed and self-enriching. Instead, practice humility today. Follow in the footsteps of Mary, who rejoiced in the God who turns things upside down!

Having a hard time? Check out these tips from Christine Ereiser, OSB on Twitter: they’re good attitude adjustments.

Several months ago, Tom and I began a study using The Battlefield of the Mind book and study guide by Joyce Meyer.  We are going through it slowly, one chapter at a time, answering questions from it, and then discussing it with one another, so it’s much like going back to school.  It’s forcing me to chew on what I’m reading, rather than just zipping through the material quickly without absorbing it.  I’m actually learning it.  Just this morning, the Lord ministered to me using one of the key points in the book, the gist of which is, You don’t have to take ownership of every thought that comes to you.

I was putting off getting out of bed, though I’d been awake quite a while, alternating between praying and thinking about “things.”  As I drifted into thoughts about the non-relationship between one of my sons and me, and between my sister and me, the familiar trap of condemnation and guilt began to draw me in as I considered my being the common factor in both relationships.  Right in the midst of it, the Lord spoke clearly, “You don’t have to go there unless I take you there.”  Wow!  With those words, He snatched me right out of the downward spiral into which those thoughts were leading me.  My loving Daddy doesn’t want me to live that way any more.  He really wants to help me take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).  Sometimes I’m not even aware just how contrary to Christ my thoughts are, so He chose this morning to wake me up to this trap that has been my normal.

I don’t know what your specific situations are, my beloved sisters.  Be assured the Lord is saying the same thing to you, “You don’t have to go there unless I take you there.”  Turn away from that self-analysis that only sides with the accuser, contrary to what God has declared about you – no matter the situation.  Instead, take those thoughts captive, knowing if there is something in you needing correction, He will bring it to your attention at the right time and in the right way.  You will be convicted, not condemned, and will walk out of it in true humility and freedom because of His mercy and grace.

Romans 8:6 AMP Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter].  But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

There is no need to be concerned that you will get “out of balance” in this, refusing to receive correction.  That, too, is a trap of the enemy.

John 5:24 AMP  I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life.

How much more freely and confidently we live when led by the Spirit into correction, rather than by the enemy – through our flesh – into condemnation!  I choose God’s freedom from this day forward.  I’m not going with my thoughts into those places any more unless my Daddy takes me there.  How about you?  Freedom in Christ!

Another dividend we may expect from confiding our defects to another person is humility—a clear recognition of what and who we really are.

November 30 2009 Monday Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle
Saint of the Day – St. Andrew

About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/113009.shtml

Romans 10:9-18
Haydock New Testament

That if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thy heart that God hath raised him up from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For, with the heart, we believe unto justice: but, with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith: Whosoever believeth in him, shall not be confounded. For there is no distinction of the Jew and the Greek; for the same is Lord over all, rich to all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed?  Or how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear, without a preacher? And how can they preach, unless they be sent? as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things? But all do not obey the gospel.  For Isaias saith: Lord, who hath believed our report?

Faith then cometh by hearing: and hearing by the word of Christ. But I say: Have they not heard?  Yes, verily, their sound went forth over all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the whole world.

Responsorial Psalm 18:8-11 (Ps 19 NAB)
DR Challoner Text Only

The law of the Lord is unspotted, converting souls:
the testimony of the Lord is faithful, giving wisdom to little ones.
The justices of the Lord are right, rejoicing hearts:
the commandment of the Lord is lightsome, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is holy, enduring for ever and ever:
the judgments of the Lord are true, justified in themselves.
More to be desired than gold and many precious stones:
and sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Matthew 4:18-22
Haydock New Testament

And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). And he saith to them:

Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And they, immediately leaving their nets, followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them. And they, immediately leaving their nets and father, followed him.

Haydock Commentary Romans 10:9-18
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 9. Thou shalt be saved. To confess the Lord Jesus, and to call upon the name of the Lord, (v. 13.) is not barely the professing of a belief in the person of Christ: but moreover implies a belief of his whole doctrine, and an obedience to his law; without which the calling of him Lord will save no man.  S. Matt. vii. 21.  Ch. — This passage must be understood like many others of this apostle, of a faith accompanied by a good-will ready to perform what faith says must be practised; as it is required in this very place, that what we believe in the heart, we should confess with our mouth.  Estius.
• Ver. 14.  &c. Or how shall they believe, &c.  He shews the necessity of preachers, and that all true preachers must be sent, and have their mission from God. — Who hath believed our report?[1]  Lit. our hearing? Some expound it thus: who hath believed the things we have heard from God, and which we have preached?  The common interpretation is, who hath believed what he hath heard from us?  Wi.
• Ver. 15. Unless they be sent. Here is an evident proof against all new teachers, who have all usurped to themselves the ministry, without any lawful mission, derived by succession from the apostles, to whom Christ said, (Jo. xx. 21.) As my Father hath sent me, I also send you. Ch. — The Almighty sends people to preach two different ways.  The one is extraordinary by internal inspiration, as was that of the Baptist, and all the other prophets; in which case, however, extraordinary proofs must be given that they are sent by God; and the other is ordinary, which is derived from Christ, and from the apostles and their successors, whom he has appointed to be his vicegerents on earth.  Estius.
• Ver. 18. But I say, have they not heard? He puts an objection, and by his answer shews the Jews are inexcusable in not believing, since the gospel has been preached all the world over, and in places where the Jews were, as it was foretold: and also because the Gentiles every where have believed; which even excites you Jews to jealousy against them, as Moses foretold: (Deut. xxxii. 21.) that is, when you now see, that the Gentiles, whom you despised so much, by believing in Christ, have received the gifts of the Holy Ghost, of working miracles, of speaking tongues, of prophecy, &c.  Wi.

Haydock Commentary Matthew 4:18-22

• Ver. 18. Jesus wished not only to prove that the establishment of his religion was heavenly, but also to humble the pride of man; and therefore he did not choose orators and philosophers, but fishermen, says S. Jerom.  Cyprian, the eloquent orator, was called to the priesthood; but before him was Peter, the fisherman.  S. Chry. — Jesus saw two brothers, &c.  If we compare what is related by the evangelists, as to the time that S. Peter and S. Andrew became Christ’s disciples, we shall find Andrew, who had been a disciple of S. John Baptist, to have brought to Christ his brother Simon. Jo. i, v. 40.  But at that time they staid not with him, so as to become his disciples, and to remain with him as they afterwards did, by quitting their boat, their nets, their fishing, and all they had in the world, which is here related; and by S. Mark, (c. i,) and by S. Luke, c. v.  Wi.
• Ver. 19. Jesus Christ here makes an allusion to the prior occupation of his apostles.  David, in his Psalms, makes similar allusions to his former occupation of shepherd: “He took him from the flocks of sheep, he brought him from following the ewes big with young, to feed Jacob, his servant, and Israel, his inheritance.”  Ps. lxxvii. v. 70.  M.
• Ver. 21. It was objected by the ancient enemies of Christianity, Porphyrius, Julian the apostate, and others, that Christ chose for his apostles simple and ignorant men, easy to be imposed upon, and not such as would have been on their guard against deception; thus converting that into an argument against the doctrine of Jesus Christ, which of all other circumstances most solidly and forcibly establishes its divinity and authority.  Salmeron, trac. 25. — If Christ had persuaded the ignorant apostles only, there might be some room for such an argument.  But if these 12 ignorant men triumphed over the learning, the eloquence, the sophisms of the philosophers themselves, over the strong arm of power in the hands of tyrants, and finally over the devils and passions of men, which were the last to give up the combat against a doctrine that established itself on their ruin, then we may conclude, with S. Paul, that it was wisdom in God to choose the weak things of this world to confound the strong—the foolish and the things that are not, to confound those which are.  A.

AA’s Fifth Step liberates us alcoholics, although AA literature describes it simply as we “admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Details about this ancient tool appear in:

• Alcoholics Anonymous, which describes this step on pages 59, 72-75 and
• Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, which describes this step on pages 55-62.

Psychologists become frustrated with us alcoholics (my first-rate analyst certainly did). We shield secrets about our double life (our sober self versus our drunken self). We seldom tell them the full truth or follow their advice. So we need the therapeutic premise for the Fifth Step which according to the Big Book is that “we must be entirely honest with somebody if we expect to live long or happily.” There are also spiritual reasons for the Fifth Step—including that we need “outside help if we [are] surely to know and admit the truth about ourselves—the help of God and another human being,” as Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions explains.

In form, the Fifth Step is a confession—an intimate practice used by Jews, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians from ancient times to the present. Christian scripture directly links confessions, forgiveness and healing in Matthew 9:2-8, I Corinthians 11:27-30 and James 5:16. Even so, AA uses confessions in a spiritual and psychological (but not necessarily religious) manner. The human being who hears what we alcoholics admit may or may not represent a religious group. But at the very least, AA recommends one alcoholic, one other person and one Higher Power for the complete Fifth Step experience.

And the purpose? “Only when we resolutely tackled Step Five” did we know “we’d be able to receive forgiveness and give it, too,” Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions says.

But what about humility? How could something as unscientific as that affect healing in any way? For one answer, we turn next to a man known as “Dr. Bob.”

Copyright © 2009 by Randall E. Greene

“The place that Christians wish to be in, is not always the place which is best for their souls…What we like best is not always best for our souls, that the seed of grace needs winter as well as summer, cold as well as heat, to ripen it for glory…That place and position is most healthful for us in which we are kept most humble-most taught our own sinfulness-drawn most to the Bible and prayer-led most to live by faith and not by sight.  It may not be quite what we like. But if Christ by His providence has placed us in it, let us not be in a hurry to leave it.  Let us therein abide with God.  The great thing is to have no will of our own, and to be where Jesus would have us to be.”

J.C. Ryle

When I came to OA, I had a pretty good idea of who God was (as I understand him). I also thought I knew who I was and who most of those around me were. What I didn’t know was how to live without food obsession, and that’s what I wanted to learn. I vowed to be as open-minded and teachable as possible.

I’m learning that God is so much bigger and better than I ever imagined. I’m learning that I’m strong, where I thought I was weak – and that conversely, I’m weak, where I thought I was strong! That neither I nor others are exactly as I’ve seen and labeled them. And that food obsession isn’t something to be conquered, but that my entire life is something to be surrendered.

I know only that God is completely good, that he knows all, and that I do not. I have everything to learn. And frankly, I’m not so intent on “learning” anymore (a former obsession); I simply want to know God better, and let his own wisdom, goodness and knowledge flow through me. I’m no longer interested in making myself bigger & better. I just want to increase my ability to be filled with God’s Spirit. And everything I ever wanted to be, to learn, to do is possible. It’s his work, not mine. What relief that is.

Much love,
Dana

I’m really struggling with being humble. God warned me that pride would be my stumbling block but I’m just now starting to realize what he meant. He asked me to read this workbook I have on anger and at first I wasn’t seeing the connection. Just when I was about to give up because nothing I was reading applied to me, I got to the chapter on how pride influences anger. Well, it was me to a T. I have become so self centered that I expect everyone to do things my way (and in many cases I expect them to do this by reading my mind) that I become angry if they don’t. The solution though is to become humble. So how does one become humble? And the real challenge, how does a prideful person become humble?  God lead me to James 4. The heading in the my NIV version before the chapter starts is, “Submit Yourselves to God”. 

The good news is that when I began praying about this God told me that He would help me find the way. He is there with us in all things. We just need to ask. He didn’t promise me a speedy solution, He just said He would be there. That’s enough of a promise for me. It gives me comfort.

When I was a student at the old Alabama Christian College (now Faulkner University) from 1956 – 58, some of the older professors strongly believed the only acceptable postures in prayer were to be on your knees or prostrate.

Today, this seems to be extreme and legalistic. In those days, it was common for men to kneel when they prayed. I can remember my Grandfather raising one hand when he would “stand praying” (which is strange when some today are highly suspicious of any who “lift up holy hands”).

Today, we are not much concerned with posture as we worship. In this, we may have lost something that could be important.

“To bow down before.”

The most common word for worship in the New Testament means “to bow down before.” The word is proskuneo (verb, worship) or proskunete (noun, worshipper). The literal meaning is “to kiss the hand toward,” but came to be “bow down”. Originally, this was to prostrate one’s self before the one worshipped with the face on the ground. Later, it simply meant to bow the knee to someone, and still later to submit to one in the heart.

Think of a Medevial knight bowing before his King to pledge his allegiance, and you will have something of the idea of this word.

Examples of this Word in Action

When the Magi from the East came to Jerusalem seeking “the one who has been born king of the Jews,” they said they had “come to worship Him.” This is the word they used (Matthew 2:2; see also verses 8 & 11). In verse 11, when they found the babe, they “fell down and worshipped Him.”

When the Leper came to Jesus saying, “If you are willing, you can make me clean,” Matthew 8:2 says, “He worshipped Him.” Mark 1:40 says, “He begged him on his knees.”

Women who went to the tomb of Jesus, but found it empty, were on their way to tell the disciples. Jesus met them and they “came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him” (Matthew 28:9).

Those who crucified Him abused Him by hitting him and spitting on him. Mark also says, “Bowing their knees [they] worshipped him.” Certainly, this was not sincere, for their hearts were definitely not in it. Yet, they bowed before Him in their mock worship.

This worship should be for God alone. When Satan tempted Jesus, he offered Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world “if You will fall down and worship me.” Jesus replied, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve” (Matthew 4:10-11).

Perhaps this is why Peter, when Cornelius “fell down at his feet, and worshipped Him,” immediately made him get up for “I am only a man myself” (Acts 10:25-26).

Even in Heaven, when John fell before his angelic escort to worship him, the angel said, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God” (Revelation 22:8-9).

From the beginning of the New Testament to the very last chapter, this word denotes worship as bowing before God, acknowledging his greatness and our own submission to Him. God on the throne is worshipped by angels, cherubim, and the twenty-four elders (Revelation 4:10). Jesus received worship from the Wise Men, the Leper, and Jairus when he came because his daughter was sick near death.

Satan sought to have Jesus worship him, but Jesus refused, saying, “Worship none but God.” In Revelation, men worshipped the dragon and the beast from the sea (Revelation 13:4). They also worshipped demons and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone and wood (Revelation 9:20). They refused to repent and to worship God.

What Does This Mean for Us?

At no time is there any specific act associated with this word other than bowing in obeisance. None of the sixty places this word appears in the New Testament talks about a specific ritual of worship. In a few passages, John 12:20; Acts 7:43; 8:27; 24:11, someone goes to Jerusalem to worship. The first of these is a group of Greeks, who could not participate in the Temple ritual. In Acts 8 it is the eunuch of Ethiopia, again one who could not participate in the Temple ritual, who had gone to Jerusalem to worship. In Acts 24 Paul speaks of having come to Jerusalem to worship. Acts 7 speaks of Israel’s having made idols to worship, or bow before.

The general meaning denotes submissive adoration signified by bowing before or praising the one worshipped. Even the giving of gifts by the Magi was not a worship ritual, but an expression of adoration.

The greatest commandment, Jesus said, is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Jesus also said we are to worship God and serve only Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, He said we are to seek first the Kingdom of  God and His righteousness.

This meaning of the word worship means we are to put God first, subjecting self to Him in all things. The bowing before God symbolizes the subjection. Even if we do not physically bow to express this subjection, we must bow in heart, soul, and spirit. James said, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up” (James 4:10). Peter likewise said, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). We exalt God that God may exalt us.

Love and adoration humbly expressed would be one way of describing this worship. Rituals of worship without this adoration in the heart are never acceptable, even if God commands those rituals, as He did in the Old Testament.

The people of Israel who honored God with their lips while their hearts were far from him did not honor Him. Even when they had correct ritual, they did not walk with God. The Pharisees continued that line of vain worshippers. The church in Colosse also worshipped without exalting God, as they worshipped angels, thinking they could gain God’s favor by strict discipline of their bodies, even to the point of abuse.

On the other hand, God heard the prayer of Hezekiah regarding the observance of Passover “contrary to what was written” (2 Chronicles 30:18-19) because the people who were ritually impure had set their “heart[s] on seeking God.” See this post for more about that.

True Worship

This submission to God must be genuine. Hearts must truly be seeking Him. He must have first place in our lives. We must really be humble before Him. This is what makes worship “true worship.”

Acceptable worship is not doing the right thing in the right place at the right time and in the right way. Will one who is genuinely submissive want to do things right? Insofar as God has told us what is “right,” he will. Will he sometimes make a mistake in this? Being human, he very well might, especially when we determine “what is right” by inferences and a few examples more than by direct command. However, an honest mistake does not cause God to reject the adoration of a submissive, seeking, humble heart.

In 1 John 3:16-19, the apostle of love wrote:

By this we know love, because he laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

The grammatical construction of the words emphasized is like the construction of John 4:24 where Jesus said, “Worship in spirit and in truth.” This helps us understand what it means to worship in truth. Love in truth contrasts with seeing a brother in need while refusing to help him. Worship in truth contrasts with giving God lip service while our hearts are far from Him.

In other words, worship in truth is genuine worship, not hypocritical. Such worship truly honors God because it comes from hearts in subjection to God.

God seeks this worship; this is acceptable worship. This worship draws us near to the heart of our Lord and Master where He re-forms us into His own image so we can serve Him as we ought.

The next post of this series will deal with how we worship God under the New Covenant.

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November 29 2009 First Sunday of Advent

About the sources used. The readings on this site are not official for the Mass of Roman Rite of the Catholic Church in the USA, but are from sources free from copyright. They are here to present the comparable readings alongside traditional Catholic commentary as published in the Haydock Bible for your own personal study. Readings vary depending on your local calendar.

Official Readings of the Liturgy at – http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/112909.shtml

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Douay-Rheims Challoner

Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform the good word that I have spoken to the house of Israel, and to the house of Juda. In those days, and at that time, I will make the bud of justice to spring forth unto David, and he shall do judgment and justice in the earth. In those days shall Juda be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely: and this is the name that they shall call him, The Lord our just one.

Responsorial Psalm 24:4-5, 8-10, 14 (Ps 25 NAB)
DR Challoner Text Only

Let all them be confounded that act unjust things without cause.
Shew, O Lord, thy ways to me, and teach me thy paths.
Direct me in thy truth, and teach me; for thou art God my Saviour;
and on thee have I waited all the day long.
The Lord is sweet and righteous:
therefore he will give a law to sinners in the way.
He will guide the mild in judgment:
he will teach the meek his ways.
All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth,
to them that seek after his covenant and his testimonies.

1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2
Haydock New Testament

And may the Lord multiply you, and make you abound in charity towards one another, and towards all men: as we do also towards you, To confirm your hearts without blame, in holiness, before God and our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Amen.

For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more. For you know what commandments I have given to you by the Lord Jesus.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ According to Saint Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
Haydock New Testament

Jesus said:

And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars: and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves: Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved. And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with great power and majesty. But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads: because your redemption is at hand.

And take heed to yourselves, lest perhaps your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life: and that day come upon you suddenly. For as a snare it shall come upon all that sit upon the face of the whole earth. Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Haydock Commentary Jeremiah 33:14-16
Notes Copied From Haydock Commentary Site

• Ver. 15. Bud, or orient, Christ, (C.) of whom Zorobabel was a figure. Theodoret. All cannot be verified of the latter. v. 16. C. — The Jews themselves explain this of the Messias. Calov. — It evidently refer to him, as he was born of David, whose posterity should continue till Christ, the founder of an eternal kingdom. W.
• Ver. 16. Him. Sept. Chal. &c. The Heb. has “her” Jerusalem, or the Church, which receives all its beauty from Christ. C. — See C. xxiii. 5. where all read him. H.

Haydock Commentary 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2

• Ver. 12. And may the Lord multiply you. That is, increase the number of Christians among you. Wi.
• 1 THESSALONIANS 4
• CHAPTER IV.
• Ver. 1. In this chapter the apostle begins to remind them of their obligation of always striving to increase in virtue. Though he praises them through the whole epistle, he still thinks it necessary to warn them not to be surprised in uncleanness. He repeats what he had taught them before; first, that there is vengeance awaiting the workers of evil; and secondly, that the favour of God is the reward of those who deal with the brethren in simplicity, and preserve themselves from the defilements of the Gentiles. S. Ambrose, Comment. hic.

Haydock Commentary Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

• Ver. 26. The powers of heaven, &c. Some explain this of the angels, who shall be terrified and tremble at the sight of so many calamities. Others understand it of the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, stars, &c. which shall in some sort, likewise, be confused in the general dissolution. The prophets often make use of such expressions, when speaking of the fall of monarchies, or the ruin of nations. The heavens shall be astonished and moved, &c. Ezech. xxxii. 7. Joel iii. 15. Calmet.
• Ver. 27. The Jews shall not see him corporally, but at the last judgment. Then, says the Scripture, (Zach. xii. 10.) They shall see him whom they pierced with nails. But in the ruin of Jerusalem, all who will compare his predictions with the event, can evidently see that this was the day of his coming, so plainly marked in his words. Every body could see that this was evidently the hand of God that punished them. Calmet.

Catena Aurea Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
From Catechetics Online

• BEDE; The events which were to follow the fulfillment of the times of the Gentiles He explains in regular order, saying, There shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars.
• AMBROSE; All which signs are more clearly described in Matthew, Then shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven.
• EUSEB. For at that time when the end of this perishing life shall be accomplished, and, as the Apostle says, The fashion of this world passes away, then shall succeed a new world in which instead of sensible light, Christ Himself shall shine as a sunbeam, and as the King of the new world, and so mighty and glorious will be His light, that the sun which now dazzles so brightly, and the moon and all the stars, shall be hidden by the coming of a far greater light.
• CHRYS For as in this world the moon and the stars are soon dimmed by the rising of the sun, so at the glorious appearance of Christ shall the sun become dark, and the moon not shed her ray, and the stars shall fall from heaven, stripped of their former attire, that they may put on the robe of a better light.
• EUSEB. What things shall befall the world after the darkening of the orbs of light, and whence shall arise the straitening of nations, He next explains as follows, And of the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea. Wherein He seems to teach, that the beginning of the universal change will be owing to the failing of the watery substance. For this being first absorbed or congealed, so that no longer is heard the roaring of the sea, nor do the waves reach the shore because of the exceeding drought, the other parts of the world, ceasing to obtain the usual vapor which came forth from the watery matter, shall undergo a revolution. Accordingly since the appearance of Christ must put down the prodigies which resist God, namely, those of Antichrist, the beginnings of wrath shall take their rise from droughts, such as that neither storm nor roaring of the sea be any more heard.
• And this event shall be succeeded by the distress of the men who survive; as it follows, Men’s hearts being dried up for fear, and looking after those things which shall come upon the whole world. But the things that shall then come upon the world He proceeds to declare, adding, For the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
• THEOPHYL. Or else, When the higher world shall be changed, then also the lower elements shall suffer loss; whence it follows, And on the earth distress of nations, &c. As if He said, the sea shall roar terribly, and its shores shall be shaken with the tempest, so that of the people and nations of the earth there shall be distress, that is, a universal misery, so that they shall pine away from fear and expectation of the evils which are coming upon the world.
• AUG. But you will say, your punishment compels you to confess that the end is now approaching, seeing the fulfillment of that which was foretold. For it is certain there is no country, no place in our time, which is not affected or troubled. But if those evils which mankind now suffer are sure signs that our Lord is now about to come, what means that which the Apostle says, For when they shall say peace and safety. Let us see then if it be not perhaps better to understand the words of prophecy to be not so fulfilled, but rather that they will come to pass when the tribulation of the whole world shall be such that it shall belong to the Church, which shall be troubled by the whole world, not to those who shall trouble it. For they are those who shall say, Peace and safety. But now these evils which are counted the greatest and most immoderate, we see to be common to both the kingdoms of Christ and the Devil. For the good and the evil are alike afflicted with them, and among these great evils is the yet universal resort to licentious feasts. Is not this the being dried up from fear, or rather the being burnt up from lust?
• THEOPHYL. But not only shall men be tossed about when the world shall be changed, but angels even shall stand amazed at the terrible revolutions of the universe. Hence it follows, And the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
• GREG. For whom does He call the powers of heaven, but the angels, dominions, principalities, and powers? which at the coming of the strict Judge shall then appear visibly to our eyes, that they may strictly exact judgment of us, seeing that now our invisible Creator patiently bears with us.
• EUSEB. When also the Son of God shall come in glory, and shall crush the proud empire of the son of sin, the angels of heaven attending Him, the doors of heaven which have been shut from the foundation of the world shall be opened, that the things that are on high may be witnessed.
• CHRYS. Or the heavenly powers shall be shaken, although themselves know it not. For when they see the innumerable multitudes condemned, they shall not stand there without trembling.
• BEDE; Thus it is said in Job, the pillars of heaven tremble and are afraid at his reproof. What then do the boards do, when the pillars tremble? what does the shrub of the desert suffer, when the cedar of Paradise is shaken?
• EUSEB. Or the powers of heaven are those which preside over the sensible parts of the universe, which indeed shall then be shaken that they may attain to a better state. For they shall be discharged from the ministry with which they serve God toward the sensible bodies in their perishing condition.
• AUG. But that the Lord may not seem to have foretold as extraordinary those things concerning His second coming, which were wont to happen to this world even before His first coming, and that we may not be laughed at by those who have read more and greater events than these in the history of nations, I think what has been said may be better understood to apply to the Church. For the Church is the sun, the moon, and the stars, to whom it was said, Fair as the moon, elect as the sun. And she will then not be seen for the unbounded rage of the persecutors.
• AMBROSE; While many also fall away from religion, clear faith will be obscured by the cloud of unbelief, for to me that Sun of righteousness is either diminished or increased according to my faith; and as the moon in its monthly wanings, or when it is opposite the sun by the interposition of the earth, suffers eclipse, so also the holy Church when the sins of the flesh oppose the heavenly light, cannot borrow the brightness of divine light from Christ’s rays. For in persecutions, the love of this world generally shuts out the light of the divine Sun; the stars also fall, that is, men who shine in glory fall when the bitterness of persecution waxes sharp and prevails. And this must be until the multitude of the Church be gathered in, for thus are the good tried and the weak made manifest.
• AUG. But in the words, And upon the earth distress of nations, He would understand by nations, not those which shall be blessed in the seed of Abraham, but those which shall stand on the left hand.
• AMBROSE; So severe then will be the manifold fires of our souls, that with consciences depraved through the multitude of crimes, by reason of our fear of the coming judgment, the dew of the sacred fountain will be dried upon us. But as the Lord’s coming is looked for, in order that His presence may dwell in the whole circle of mankind or the world, which now dwells in each individual who has embraced Christ with his whole heart, so the powers of heaven shall at our Lord’s coming obtain an increase of grace, and shall be moved by the fullness of the Divine nature more closely infusing itself. There are also heavenly powers which proclaim the glory of God, which shall be stirred by a fuller infusion of Christ, that they may see Christ.
• AUG. Or the powers of heaven shall be stirred, because when the ungodly persecute, some of the most stout-hearted believers shall be troubled.
• THEOPHYL. It follows, And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds. Both the believers and unbelievers shall see Him, for He Himself as well as His cross shall glisten brighter than the sun, and so shall be observed of all.
• AUG. But the words, coming in the clouds, may be taken in two ways. Either coming in His Church as it were in a cloud, as He now ceases not to come. But then it shall be with great power and majesty, for far greater will His power and might appear to His saints, to whom He will give great virtue, that they may not be overcome in such a fearful persecution. Or in His body in which He sits at His Father’s right hand He must rightly be supposed to come, and not only in His body, but also in a cloud, for He will come even as He went away, And a cloud received him out of their sight.
• CHRYS. For God ever appears in a cloud, according to the Psalms, clouds and darkness are round about him. Therefore shall the Son of man come in the clouds as God, and the Lord, not secretly, but in glory worthy of God. Therefore He adds, with great power and majesty.
• CYRIL; Great must be understood in like manner. For His first appearance He made in our weakness and lowliness, the second He shall celebrate in all His own power.
• GREG. For in power and majesty will men see Him, whom in lowly stations they refused to hear, that so much the more acutely they may feel His power, as they are now the less willing to bow the necks of their hearts to His sufferings.
• GREG. Having in what has gone before spoken against the reprobate, He now turns His words to the consolation of the elect; for it is added, When these things begin to be, look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws nigh; as if he says, When the buffetings of the world multiply, lift up your heads, that is, rejoice your hearts, for when the world closes whose friends you are not, the redemption is near which you seek. For in holy Scripture the head is often put for the mind, for as the members are ruled by the head, so are the thoughts regulated by the mind. To lift up our heads then, is to raise up our minds to the joys of the heavenly country.
• EUSEB. Or else, To those that have passed through the body and bodily things, shall be present spiritual and heavenly bodies: that is, they will have no more to pass the kingdom of the world, and then to those that are worthy shall be given the promises of salvation. For having received the promises of God which we look for, we who before were crooked shall be made upright, and we shall lift up our heads who were before bent low; because the redemption which we hoped for is at hand; that namely for which the whole creation waits.
• THEOPHYL. That is, perfect liberty of body and soul. For as the first coming of our Lord was for the restoration of our souls, so will the second be manifested to the restoration of our bodies.
• EUSEB. He speaks these things to His disciples, not as to those who would continue in this life to the end of the world, but as if uniting in one body of believers in Christ both themselves and us and our posterity, even to the end of the world.
• THEOPHYL. Our Lord declared above the fearful and sensible signs of the evils which should overtake sinners, against which the only remedy is watching and prayer, as it is said, And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time, &c.
• BASIL; Every animal has within itself certain instincts which it has received from God, for the preservation of its own being. Wherefore Christ has also given us this warning, that what comes to them by nature, may be ours by the aid of reason and prudence: that we may flee from sin as the brute creatures shun deadly food, but that we seek after righteousness, as they wholesome herbs. Therefore said He, Take heed to yourselves, that is, that you may distinguish the noxious from the wholesome. But since there are two ways of taking heed to ourselves, the one with the bodily eyes, the other by the faculties of the soul, and the bodily eye does not reach to virtue; it remains that we speak of the operations of the soul. Take heed, that is, Look around you on all sides, keeping an ever watchful eye to the guardianship of your soul. He says not, Take heed to your own or to the things around, but to yourselves. For you are mind and spirit, your body is only of sense. Around you are riches, arts, and all the appendages of life, you must not mind these, but your soul, of which you must take especial care. The same admonition tends both to the healing of the sick, and the perfecting of those that are well, namely, such as are the guardians of the present, the providers of the future, not judging the actions of others, but strictly searching their own, not suffering the mind to be the slave of their passions but subduing the irrational part of the soul to the rational. But the reason why we should take heed He adds as follows, Lest at any time your hearts be overcharged, &c.
• TIT. BOST. As if He says, Beware lest the eyes of your mind wax heavy. For the cares of this life, and surfeiting, and drunkenness, scare away prudence, shatter and make shipwreck of faith.
• CLEM. ALEX. Drunkenness is an excessive use of wine; crapula is the uneasiness, and nausea attendant on drunkenness, a Greek word so called from the motion of the head. And a little below. As then we must partake of food lest we suffer hunger, so also of drink lest we thirst, but with still greater care to avoid falling into excess. For the indulgence of wine is deceitful, and the soul when free from wine will be the wisest and best, but steeped in the fumes of wine is lost as in a cloud.
• BASIL; But carefulness, or the care of this life, although it seems to have nothing unlawful in it, nevertheless if it conduce not to religion, must be avoided. And the reason why He said this He shows by what comes next, And so that day come upon you unawares.
• THEOPHYL. For that day will not come when men are expecting it, but unlooked for and by stealth, taking as a snare those who are unwary. For as a snare shall it come upon all them that sit upon the face of the earth. But this we may diligently keep far from us. For that day will take those that sit on the face of the earth, as the unthinking and slothful. But as many as are prompt and active in the way of good, not sitting and loitering on the ground, but rising from it, saying to themselves, Rise up, be gone, for here there is no rest for you. To such that day is not as a perilous snare, but a day of rejoicing.
• EUSEB. He taught them therefore to take heed to the things we have just before mentioned, lest they fall into the indolence resulting therefrom. Hence it follows, Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that shall come to pass.
• THEOPHYL. Namely, hunger, pestilence, and such like, which for a time only threaten the elect and others, and those things also which are hereafter the lot of the guilty for ever. For these we can in no wise escape, save by watching and prayer.
• AUG. This is supposed to be that flight which Matthew mentions; which must not be in the winter or on the sabbath day. To the winter belong the cares of this life, which are mournful as the winter, but to the sabbath surfeiting and drunkenness, which drowns and buries the heart in carnal luxury and delight, since on that day the Jews are immersed in worldly pleasure, while they are lost to a spiritual sabbath.
• THEOPHYL. And because a Christian needs not only to flee evil, but to strive to obtain glory, He adds, And to stand before the Son of man. For this is the glory of angels, to stand before the Son of man, our God, and always to behold His face.
• BEDE; Now supposing a physician should bid us beware of the juice of a certain herb, lest a sudden death overtake us, we should most earnestly attend to his command; but when our Savior warns us to shun drunkenness and surfeiting, and the cares of this world, men have no fear of being wounded and destroyed by them; for the faith which they put in the caution of the physician, they disdain to give to the words of God.

*Advent wreath photo by Micha L. Rieser used according to Creative Commons license as found HERE  at Wikipedia

I’m often encouraged and instructed by Don Ruhl’s twice-daily email devotionals. They’re short and to the point. Here’s one from this afternoon.

The Power of Humility
By Don Ruhl

Since we should submit to one another, clothing ourselves with humility, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5), Peter made this conclusion, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6).

Humility is one of those many things in life that produces the opposite of what we expect. As people of the world, we think that humbling ourselves before others will humiliate us and hurt us, but Peter assures us that it has the opposite effect. Since God works in your life, He will exalt you when you submit to others and be humble.

Try it and see what happens.

You can receive Don’s devotionals by sending an email to this address and then replying to the confirmation request.

Don should be logging some of his wisdom here on FR as a Fellow before long.

“A lesson from the Canaanite woman”

Matthew 15:21-28 21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” 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 their dogs.” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Historical Background

- It received its name from the “first-born” of Canaan, the grandson of Noah (Genesis 10:15, 19).

- It was the first home of the Phoenicians on the coast of Canaan, and from its extensive commercial relations became a “great” city.

- Jezebel was a Sidonian princess (1 Kings 16:31).

- Elijah sojourned in Sidon, performing miracles (1 Kings 17:9-24; Luke 4:26).

- Joshua allotted the region of Tyre to the tribe of Asher (Josh 19:29) but the Asherites did not fully drive the Canaanite tribes out of the region (Judges 1:32).

- Hiram, the Phoenician king of Tyre, sent cedar lumber and supplied builders to King David for the construction of his palace in Jerusalem (2 Sam 5:11).

- Many years later, King Hiram supplied the cedar and cypress wood as well as builders for Solomon’s elaborate temple and palace in Jerusalem (1 Kgs 5:1). The relationship between Hiram and Solomon was mutually beneficial. Solomon received cedar lumber and craftsmen while Hiram gained access to the port of Ezion-geber on the Gulf of Aqaba, the southern-most border of Israel during Solomon’s reign.

- The prophets spoke out against Tyre. Isaiah warned that Tyre would be destroyed and forgotten (Isaiah 23). Ezekiel prophesied that the walls and towers of Tyre would be destroyed and that the city would become a place where fishermen would spread their nets (Ezekiel 26:1-28:26).

- Tyre continued to be a significant city during the first century A.D. People from Tyre came to Galilee to see Jesus’ miracles (Mark 3:8; Luke 6:17).

- In rebuking unbelief in Galilee, Jesus said that even though the people of Tyre and Sidon were pagans, they would have repented if they had seen as many miracles as Chorazin and Bethsaida had seen (Luke 10:13-14).

I. Why did Jesus withdraw to Tyre and Sidon?

Mark 6:31 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

1. Jesus was highly opposed by some Pharisees in the region of Galilee.
2. The Disciples just completed a rigorous time of ministry.
3. John the Baptist was beheaded
4. They needed a break from the crowds and challenge of ministry.
5. Jesus needs to spend time teaching the twelve.

Mark 7:24-25 24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet.

II. Who is this Canaanite Woman?

Mark 7:26 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

- She lived in the area of Tyer and Sidon

- Born to Greek Parents in Syrian Phoenicia

- Her daughter was possessed with a demon.

- She calls on Yeshua for help.

Matthew 15:22 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.”

III. Did Jesus attempt to insult the pleading woman?

- No…Let me explain.

- Jesus pauses and his first words were not an insult but rather a response to her comment based on knowledge and revelation of Jesus as messiah.

- Lord, Son of David was the Jewish recognition that Yeshua was Messiah.

Ezekiel 34 speaks of the messiahs work as the shepherd of Israel

Ezekiel 34:²⁴ I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have                   spoken.

- She was not a Jew, how did she know who he was?

“ in effect he says, “If, as you say, I am the Son of David, the shepherd who was king of Israel, I was sent to find my lost sheep and am not sent to you.  So I am surprised that you recognize me” David H. Stern “Jewish New Testament Commentary“.

- This is a straightforward Middle-Eastern style friendly joke not an insult.

Conclusion: What does it take to have great faith?

Matthew 15:28

28 Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

It is interesting to note that the times Yeshua mentions the great faith of individuals included Gentiles like the Centurion and the Canaanite woman.  As we have learned from scripture, great faith is not an emotion or mysterious attribute.  Rather we discover that faith is faithfulness and persistence demonstrated in our life. What was so great about this Canaanite woman born in Syrian Phoenicia? She knew and understood the work and purpose of Jesus.  Even though she was not a Jew, she had heard of this Jewish Messiah. The concept of a coming Jewish messiah was ingrained in the Jewish culture. It seems this woman not only heard of Yeshua, but understood that he came to redeem the Jewish people and the nations. In hopes of meeting the Messiah she sought Jesus out in the most difficult of circumstances.  First, she understood that the Messiah came first to the Jew.  As gentile she understood that she was not a priority nevertheless she sought Him out. Even in His secrecy this woman was persistent enough to find out where he was staying. Her persistent pursuit was rewarded. In her humility and recognition of the Messiahs work among His people caught the heart of the Messiah.  This humility was demonstrated in her words; “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table.” What she was saying to the Master was this.  I know that you have come to bring bread to your children.  Even though I am not of the seed of Abraham, I know that the nations are blessed because of the Abraham. If I can just eat from the crumbs of the Table of God I will be blessed. She was willing to receive any level of blessing.  How great is our faith?  Do we truly recognize that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah? Are we willing to do anything to discover the Hebrew Yeshua? If our answer is yes, to the last two questions then we have great faith.  It is great faith that moves mountains, heals lives and restores us back to the heart of God.

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