August 12

Beloved families of Good Shepherd,

Peace be with you! Today is the first day back to school for many of our families. I don’t know if this holds true for you, but I have always struggled with the process of letting go and letting God watch over my child. This was especially true during the seasons of major change for my daughter, such as when she transitioned to a new school or when she moved to a new developmental stage (age 16 and the process of learning to drive literally took my breath away). I have a tendency, which I know is based in fear, to obsessively worry about the threats to my daughter’s well-being. As a follower of Jesus, I believe I worry most about the forces which can destroy my daughter’s spiritual well-being and convince her that she is not a beloved child of God.

This Sunday’s Gospel reading is the story of the Canaanite woman who is worried about her daughter. The woman and her daughter in this story are considered outsiders (non-Jews). Nonetheless, she desperately begs Jesus to heal her daughter who is spiritually unwell and cannot see herself as a beloved child of God. She shouts to Jesus, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” Jesus initially hesitates regarding her request, communicating that he was “sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” This mother earnestly and humbly persists, replying to Jesus, “Lord, help me.” Jesus commends her great faith and then heals her daughter instantly.

Unfortunately we do not have to look very far to notice the destructive forces in our world which threaten the spiritual well-being of our children. The daily news offers a somber reminder of this reality. As parents we persist in asking Jesus to protect our children from spiritual harm, just as the Canaanite woman did for her daughter.

Living a sacramental life strengthens us for the spiritual battles we face against these harmful forces. As we immerse ourselves and our children in the life, prayers, and sacraments of the church, we receive grace and power from Christ to remain spiritually healthy. Participating in these regular spiritual practices enables us to live our lives from our deepest identity as beloved children of God.

There are many ways to engage in the life of the church this fall!

Please join our Back to School Blessing of Students and Teachers, Parish Picnic, and Lifeline Meal Packing event this Sunday, August 16. Following the 10 am service, we’ll gather for a picnic lunch at Ashland Elementary for a wonderful time of fellowship and service. Register to be part of our food bag packing team HERE.

Also, this fall we have many new and wonderful offerings in the areas of worship, formation, and outreach. See our new Fall Engagement Brochure HERE.

We hope to see you this Sunday!

Many Blessings,

Patty