Praying Together 16th August 2026

So the commandment is a challenge. To love those who betray you. Those who jeer. Those who wield the whips embedded with flint, hammer in the nails, pierce your side.

Collect for Trinity 11

O God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 11: 1-2a, 29-32

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? 29for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now* receive mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Matthew 15: 21-28

21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just 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.’ 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ 24He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ 26He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ 27She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ 28Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.

Reflection

Tribe Definition:

A group of people, sharing the same language, culture, belief and history.

In a recent documentary, using examples from the Troubles in the north of the country, Ex-USofA President Bill Clinton discussed our common humanity, accepting that we all live in ‘tribes’. He introduced the concept of ‘inclusive tribalism’, where people from different backgrounds, cultures and traditions live and work together successfully having reached an accommodation of their beliefs on economics, social policy, politics and religion.

He compared this with ‘divisive tribalism’, where powerful tribal leaders engender conflict between those whose beliefs are different from theirs.

In the former environment, we talk about being ‘us’ – in the latter, we reject those we call ‘them’.

This is not a new state of affairs – believe it or not, in fact today we probably enjoy the most inclusive tribalism in history. However, we are still a long way from the ideal, with many people still stirring up prejudice and barriers along the way – usually to their own advantage.

In Jesus’ day, even within Judaism itself, there were many divided tribes each asserting their own superiority – albeit usually agreeing with the inferiority of the tribe of women.
So when Jesus (after making sure He isn’t being set up by asking some questions about the sincerity of her request) heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman, the watching divisive tribalists are both amazed and horrified at His blasphemy.

But

“In Christ there is no east or west, In him no south or north” (Galatians 3:28 paraphrase)

We are often members of many tribes according to politics, language, history – especially football team! – but we are one in Christ. He said so, and challenges us to ‘make disciples of all Nations’ (Matthew 28:19)

Taking that to its conclusion, though, begs a question – do we have to crusade against other tribes and insist they join our tribe, by force if necessary? Or do we have to accept them even if we believe their actions to be dangerous or sinful? A current example from last night’s TV News would be the Taliban treatment of women and girls. Clearly, the answer is no. But we have to look at the plank in our own eye before we confront the speck in another. While Christianity is divided in itself, allowing fundamentalist sects of all extremes to claim exclusive ownership of Gospel truth, we have no right to preach to others let alone attempt to subdue them by force. Evangelisation does not happen through violent subjection, but by offering an example of living as the Body of Christ.

Again from last nights’ news: A flag “calling for police officers and Protestants to be killed” was erected near a bonfire in Londonderry. On the other hand, increasingly, we see Far-right fundamentalist ‘pastors’ and politicians claim exclusivity of the Cross and use it as their justification to incite racist, sexist, anti-Catholic, misogynistic and anti-LGBT violence.

We share the shame of both if we fail to address the divisive hatred within our own purportedly Christian ‘tribe’ before condemning others. For Scripture also says Judge not lest ye yourself be judged (Matthew 7:1). Jesus Himself makes it clear that hypocrisy has no place in a Kingdom founded upon love.