686: Proper 15A OT20 (8/16/2026)

Notes

Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 Genesis 45:1-15 This episode explores the complex and transformative stories of Jesus' interactions with the Canaanite woman and the story of Joseph, highlighting themes of growth, forgiveness, and social justice.

(00:00) Episode intro and the lectionary texts for Proper 15A

(01:35) Listener emails, including Mabel Laird's insight on Matthew 21

(05:57) Matthew 15 begins: what contaminates a person and the Canaanite woman

(08:24) Why verses 10 to 20 matter for the meaning of the story

(10:54) Jesus as one who is challenged and changed

(13:54) The theological risk of saying Jesus grew here

(15:49) The feeding of the 4,000 and the meaning of the leftovers

(17:00) The Canaanite woman will not be silenced

(19:09) Why this reading matters politically now

(20:28) Jesus' deeper debate about purity, harm, and righteousness