Messiahs are from Mars;Syrophoenician Women are from Venus

Pentecost 14 sermon by Clay Nelson at St Matthew-in-the-City on 10 September 2006. Explores how a pagan woman saved a cranky Jesus' mission just when it looked impossible. "No getting around it. Calling someone a dog, small or otherwise, is rude. He had much more important things on his mind—like his own misery. He wasn't in the mood to be either welcoming or inclusive, nor did he have the motivation to confront his own culturally conditioned racism and sexism. Perhaps that is what's going on with the Archbishop of Canterbury these days. Last week he said the church is welcoming but not inclusive. Seeming to contradict his previous more enlightened views on gays and lesbians in the church he argued that the church welcomes all who want to come but they have to conform to church teaching and scripture. Maybe he needs some face time with a cheeky woman too? She certainly did Jesus a world of good. " Full text at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/?sid=256&id=641