FIFTEENTH AFTER PENTECOST 2015 MARK 7:24-37

Last month, as many of you know, I attended a writers’ workshop in Minnesota for clergy. I was one of twelve participants from many different churches, but I was the only Episcopalian. Now one of my colleagues was a professor of homiletics (that’s preaching) at a Roman Catholic seminary. And I thought I couldn’t pass up the chance of picking her brains. So I went up to her in one our breaks and said, “So, Anne.  September 6th - what are preaching on? Because I have a brilliant sermon. You know how throughout this workshop we’ve been studying metaphor? Well I’ve spotted the metaphor in the Gospel reading for Sept 6th. And I’m going pick up that metaphor on my own one-yard line, side-step the onrushing tacklers, sprint the entire length of the

field, score the touchdown, do my end zone dance, and even kick the point after.” And she said, “I hate sports metaphors”. And I replied, “that’s OK, because it’s not a sports metaphor. It’s spit.” She looked horrified. “Spit?” “Yes, spit! It’s there in the Gospel lesson. Jesus spits on the ground and touches the deaf man’s tongue and he is healed. It’s a great metaphor – Jesus takes a symbol of shame and disgrace – spitting at someone – and transforms it into a means of healing.” And then........

 

Read the full Sermon here: http://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3211379/20150906_Opening_Day.pdf