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Discussion Questions
- Do you think Brett Favre should continue his legacy and keep playing
football?
- How has Brett's “never give up” attitude helped him through difficult
times in his life?
- Can anyone develop a never quit attitude or is it something you have to
be born with?
- When have you felt that you had a “never quit” attitude? When have you
felt like you had to quit? What was the difference between the two
situations?
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Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, August 17, 2008.
(Text links are to
oremus Bible
Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings
for Year A at
Lectionary Readings.)
Isaiah 56:1, 6-8
Psalm 67 (3)
Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32
Matthew 15:[10-20] 21-28
For lectionary humor and insight, check
the weekly comic
Agnus
Day.
Gospel Reflection
The Gospel text for this Sunday has to do with the “I will never quit”
attitude of a Canaanite woman. In this story, she cries and begs for Jesus to
have mercy on her and her daughter (who is tormented by a demon). Because she is
not a part of the “lost sheep of the house of Israel,” both Jesus and his
disciples reject her. She is persistent, however, and begs Jesus and says that
even though she is not one of Israel's lost sheep, she still needs to be helped.
Because of her persistence and her faith, Jesus has mercy on the woman and heals
her daughter.
Jesus along with his disciples showed great concern for those to whom and for
whom they were sent. At first, they ignore the Canaanite woman because she is
not part of their group or faith tradition. When the woman asked for healing the
first time, Jesus tells her, “It is not fair to take the children's food and
throw it to the dogs.” The woman does not give up though. Instead, she brings up
a good point by telling Jesus that “even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from
their master’s table.”
There are two important aspects to this story. First, the woman does not give
up in spite of rejection. Like Brett Favre, she has an “I will never quit”
attitude. She was basically called a dog, yet she still overcomes this insult
and continues to ask for the help and healing of Jesus. Had she not shown
persistence, her daughter would not have been healed, and this story would not
have much significance and would probably not have been retold over and over
again and found its way into the Bible. She tells Jesus that even the least of
us needs the help of God. We all need the help of God; however, it is through
our faith that God's help can truly be given and received.
This Canaanite woman has complete faith that Jesus Christ will heal her
daughter. This, perhaps, is the reason for her persistence. Just being
persistent would not have caused Jesus to heal her daughter. But as Jesus points
out, it is her “great faith” that causes the demon to be cast from her daughter.
There are plenty of times in our lives when we ourselves are persistent and
have an “I will never quit” attitude. It is important to recognize this attitude
in our own lives wherever we find it. When that kind of persistent attitude is
channeled into faith in God, as the Canaanite woman was able to do, who knows
what God can achieve in us and through us.
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Discussion Questions
- What do you think of the woman's “I will never quit” attitude?
- What are some ways in which we can channel our persistence in a way that
will help our relationship with Christ grow?
- How can we be more faithful like the Canaanite woman?
- Who do you often consider, or are tempted to consider, to be an
“outsider” like the Canaanite woman?
- What would like to have the persistence to ask God about?
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Activity Suggestions
The following are some challenge initiative
game options that require little in the way of preparation or equipment.
Just be sure to:
- Use a space that has enough room to move
around in safely
- Set aside some time to talk about the
experience afterwards. Talk about what people experienced or felt, what they
observed or noticed, at what point they wanted to give up, what was gained
or accomplished by being persistent (as an individual and as a group), what
they learned about themselves and the group, etc.
Everybody Up
This activity begins with everybody in pairs and gradually expands to
include everyone at once. Each pair sits on the ground facing each other,
with each person’s feet against the other’s feet and holding hands. The goal
is to pull each other to a standing position. When two people accomplish
this task, continue to try it with more until everyone is in one group. It
has been suggested that with more than eight people it is impossible to do
in a circle, but that it is possible to do with another configuration.
Variation: The goal is the same except that in this version
participants sit back to back. All other rules apply.
Group Juggling
Materials: tennis balls, different color bean bags, different soft
objects, or have each person take off one shoe.
Begin with everyone in a circle and one object to be thrown. The first
person throws the object across the circle to someone who then throws the
object to someone else. Everyone should catch and throw the object just
once, remembering whom they received from and to whom they threw. The first
person to throw should receive the ball last. Begin the sequence again,
continually adding objects so that the group is juggling as many objects as
possible.
Whenever the sequence is broken or an object is dropped, begin the
juggling again. Repeat until the group successfully juggles all the objects
in the correct sequence or order.
All Aboard!
This activity requires working together in close physical proximity in
order to solve a practical, physical problem. It tends to emphasize group
communication, cooperation, patience and problem solving strategy, as well
as issues related to physical self and physical proximity.
The activity can be run in many different ways. Basic method: Ask the
whole group to try to fit inside a small area which can be marked by:
- small platforms
- circle of rope or twine
- tarpaulin or blanket
When the group succeeds, decrease the area (e.g., changing platforms,
shrinking the circle, or folding the tarp) and challenge the group to try
again. How far can the group go?
Cautions: Obviously people are going to need to feel physically
comfortable in order to get physically close and be supportive of one
another. So make sure people are warmed up and preferably have removed
excessive jewelry, watches, etc.
Variations Tarp Flip Over: With a group standing on a plastic
tarp, blanket, or beach towel, challenge them to turn the tarp over without
anyone touching the ground in the process. Adding a time limit can adjust
the challenge factor.
Knots
A group of six to 12 people forms a circle. Each person puts the right
hand into the center of the circle and clasps hands with one other person
who is not standing next to him or her. Then everyone puts their left hand
into the circle and clasps hands, again making sure that person is not
standing next to them. They should be holding two different people’s hands.
The goal is to untangle the knot without letting go of anyone’s hand.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help us to be strong in both mind and faith. Help us
to channel our perseverance in a way that allows us to be closer to you. Please,
dear God, enhance our faith so that our relationship with you is constant and
genuine. In Christ's name we pray. Amen
Contributed by Sarah Lendy ('08 graduate of Walter Payton
College Prep High School)
Chicago, IL
and...
Pastor Scott A. Moore
Eisleben, Germany
Permission
to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2008 Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. ELCA Youth
Ministry. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens,
e-mail: rod.boriack@elca.org.
Program Resources
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