1

Louise Schaeffer Tuesday, October 2, 2012 Holy Cross Lutheran Church Wheat Ridge, CO Pastor Dena Williams The Holy Gospel according to the Community of St. Matthew in the 15th Chapter Glory to you, O Christ Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon. But Jesus did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us. Jesus answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she came and knelt before him, saying, Lord, help me. He answered, It is not fair to take the childrens food and throw it to the dogs. She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table. Then Jesus answered her, Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish. And her daughter was healed instantly. The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ Its the story of a Gentile woman. Jesus goes away to the region of Tyre. He leaves Jewish territory and enters a land of Gentiles. He was traveling, doing ministry for many months. He fed five thousand people, walked on water, healed the sick,

stood up to the temple leaders, the scribes and the Pharisees. Now it is time to rest. He knows he will need strength for the Jerusalem journey ahead. He seeks rest, time to prepare for what is to come. He retreats to a house, hiding from the crowds. A woman from the town finds him, comes begging after him. She seeks a cure for her demon tormented little daughter. Who is this woman? She is given no name by the Gospel writer. Does she have a husband? If so, why is he allowing her to run the streets, going into a house where strangers live? If not, who does she think she is, an unmarried woman, the lowest of the low in that society. Who does she think she is, running after Jesus? She is a mother, a mother with a very sick little girl. At first, Jesus takes no notice of her, doesnt even appear to hear her plea on behalf of her daughter. Then he reminds her that he did not come for Gentiles, but only for the house of Israel. She begs, pleads for mercy. Then Jesus says to her, It is not fair to take the childrens food (Israels food) and throw it to the dogs (the Gentiles). The woman can hardly believe what she hears. Such harsh words! The prophet has called her a dog! In desperation, on her knees at his feet, she pleads for mercy.

Why doesnt she give up and go home? She should never have presumed to ask this man, a Jew, a prophet, for help. She stepped out of her place. Her daughter is dying. Surely this man will have mercy on her because of her daughter. Even if he shows no mercy, she has no other options. No one has helped her. No one will. What does Jesus mean about the childrens food going to the dogs? Is she a dog? Perhaps, it is time to go home. Perhaps, it is time to give up. Jesus demeaned and insulted her. How can she possibly stay and take any more abuse? Why did she ever think, in the first place, that this prophet, a Jew, would care? She tries once more. There is, after all, a dying daughter at home. She might never be this assertive on her own behalf. But she is a mother. She says quietly, Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the childrens crumbs. She might be a Gentile. She might be a dog, but she is also clever, persistent, courageous. Does she remind you of anyone we have all known and loved? Jesus, fully human, seems to have a change of heart. He replies, For saying that, you may go the demon has left your daughter. Jesus honors her assertiveness as faith. She believed, she trusted, she acted.

Jesus recognizes her faith. So she goes home, finds the little child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. So Louise believed, trusted, acted on her faith. I met Louise 15 years ago and never forgot her. When I became her pastor again three years ago, there she was, on the right side of the sanctuary, near the front, in her pew, with Bob beside her. There she was, at senior lunch, setting the table, making the coffee, at the Bible Study table with Bob beside her. Louise didnt have much to say at Bible Study, but whenever she spoke, we all listened, we listened because we knew we would hear words of wisdom, words of sincerity and faith. When I asked Louises family to describe her to me they used these words: loving, caring, she lived for others, for her family. She was the heart of the family, the lady with the answers. She was a firm little lady, kind and generous, confident and assertive. Louise accepted others just as they were, she was non-judgmental. She was plain and simple,

not interested in wealth or material things. I found Louise to be intelligent and wise, as well. She was always busy, from crochet to computers, she never met a challenge she couldnt handle. Louise was lovable and capable, very, very lovable and very, very capable. She, like the Gentile woman, inspired others, her children and grandchildren, her friends, including me, she inspired us with her persistence, her courage, her compassion. I love the way the Gentile woman seems to teach, Jesus, even Jesus, a thing or two. Now, I wouldnt put it past Louise . . . to have a few things to say to Jesus herself! Jesus, fully human, fully God who in our story of the Gentile woman, might just be having a human moment. Whatever we think about Jesus response to the woman we hear that the content of his heart prevails. He responds to the Gentile woman with hope and healing. Breaking all the rules, Jesus welcomes the outcast, the Gentile. And so, we know and believe Jesus welcomes our Louise this day. We will miss her deeply. We know, as she knew, that she rests now in the arms of her Lord. At 11:00pm on Friday, the night before she died, Louise was busy at her computer. She sent two items to her family and friends. She seemed to know something . . .

The first item she sent was titled: Men Who Lack Female Supervision It was a series of photographs showing the sorts of trouble men can get into without a woman to keep an eye on them. Bob, she knew and loved you well. Now, Louise had an extraordinary sense of humor, so I cant describe all these photos from the pulpit, in church, it wouldnt be appropriate. See me later and Ill show them to you! Louise sent a second e-mail. Its a story. . . Its Louises story . . . Heres how it goes: As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls. Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our squares together into a quilt that was our life. But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares appeared. The fabric was so thin! The squares were filled with giant holes. Each worn square was labeled with a part of my life that was difficult, the challenges and temptations I faced in every day life. I saw hardships I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I looked around me. No one else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other quilts were filled with rich color and bright hues of material wealth and worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and felt disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together,

threadbare and empty, like binding air. Finally the time came when each life was displayed, held up to the light, to the scrutiny of truth. The others rose, each in turn, holding up their quilts. So full and rich their lives had been! My angel looked at me and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I didnt have all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter, but there were also trials of illness and wealth, false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I was held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to God the Father in hopes I would not melt away beneath the gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was. I rose and slowly lifted the quilt of my life to the light. Gasps of awe filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes. Then, I looked at the quilt before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image of the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.

Each point of light in your lifes quilt is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through until there was more of Me than there was of you. May all our quilts be threadbare and worn allowing Christ to shine through! When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. Thanks, Louise. Amen