Sermon: The Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost

Sermon for Proper 15 A

August 16, 2026

The Rev. Paul LeClair

Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28

Bless our voices, that they may be used for kindness,

our ears for compassion, our hands for charity,

our minds for truth, and our hearts for love. Amen

~ ~ ~

Those of us who were fans of the TV series The Office during its nine year run, might be familiar with the actor, Rainn Wilson, who played the power hungry “yes man,” Dwight. When Wilson got his dream role playing an employee of the fictitious Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, he thought it would bring him fulfillment.

However, Rainn recalls, “Some of my most unhappy times I’ve known were when I was at the absolute height of my success. It didn’t make any sense to me, you know? It was like, "Wow, this is what I’ve worked for my entire life.

Now I’ve done it. I’m in an Emmy-winning TV show

playing a memorable character and making a ton of money.

Like, this is the answer . . . But that’s not how we’re wired.”

Rainn discovered that he was fighting a battle against meaninglessness.

Now, several years later, Rainn hosts the podcast, Soul Boom, which focuses on spirituality and universal values.

His podcast encourages listeners to find purpose and joy in their lives.

Wilson believes that there are tools that one can harness

from the world’s great faith traditions that can be incredibly helpful.

So, let’s look at today’s scripture selections

from Hebrew and Christian faith traditions and see what we find.

~ ~ ~

Last week’s reading from Genesis, told us how Joseph’s brothers out of jealousy, sold him to the Ishmaelites.

This week’s reading fast-forwards many years ahead,

to when Joseph encountered those same brothers once again.

So, please allow me to fill in some events in that time gap.

Even when he was sold into slavery, Joseph endured,

because he found purpose in his circumstances.

When purchased by Potiphar, Joseph became the overseer of that household.

When he was unfairly imprisoned, Joseph interpreted people’s dreams.

Later he worked his way up to becoming second in command under the Pharaoh.

When his brothers arrived in Egypt, Joseph tested them to see if they had changed, because his ultimate purpose, was to forgive his brothers, and for his family to be reunited.

That brings us to today’s selection from Genesis,

when Joseph revealed that he was their brother,

whom they had sold into slavery so many years before.

He summed up his introduction to his brothers in this statement.

“So, it was not you who sent me here, but God.”

Joseph understood that God too, saw a purpose, in all of Joseph’s trials.

~ ~ ~

Psalm 133 describes what God’s desire is for us.

In this psalm, we learn that God’s purpose and intention is: to bless us.

Now, I have to admit that the image of having oil poured over my head, running down my beard, and onto my clothing, doesn’t sound like much of a blessing to me,

although I imagine that that must have been quite an honor when that psalm was written.

On the other hand, when I read about

“the dew of Mount Hermon that falls upon the hills of Zion,”

I was reminded of the day when Collie and I were at the top of North Cape. We were higher than the clouds.

Suddenly those clouds rose up and filled mountain top with the thick moist air. That was indeed an exhilarating blessing. So, when the psalm concludes by saying that the Lord has ordained blessings like that; that’s inspiring to me.

~ ~ ~

In today’s selection from Paul’s Letter to the Romans,

he focused mainly on God’s purpose, or resolve.

First of all. Paul made it clear that God is not intent on rejecting people.

Paul wrote, “I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means!”

The second half of this selection affirms that, what God does desire, is to show mercy, which we experience by kindness, generosity, forgiveness and grace.

In this short passage, Paul mentions mercy four different ways.:

• we have received mercy,

• mercy has been shown to us

• we receive mercy now

• and that God is merciful to all.

Sandwiched in the middle of this portion of his letter,

Paul wrote one short sentence regarding our purpose.

Paul wrote this: “the gifts and the calling of God, are irrevocable.”

He’s saying that God showers each of us with gifts

and that we’re called by God to use those gifts.

Every Sunday at St. Patrick’s in our Mission Prayer,

we pray for St. Patrick’s to grow by encouraging individuals to discover, and use, their spiritual gifts.

That gives each of us a purpose.

And by responding to that call, our lives are given meaning.

~ ~ ~

That brings us to today’s passage from Matthew’s Gospel.

The Canaanite woman clearly knew what her purpose was

for bursting in and seeking Jesus. Her daughter was being tormented and the woman sought relief from her daughter’s suffering.

It didn’t matter to her that Jews and Canaanites

had been bitter enemies for centuries.

She was not concerned if anyone knew her name.

She was determined that even with Jesus’ resistance to her plea, that she was going to throw herself on the mercy of the one whom she believed with all her heart was the Son of David, the Lord.

Seeing this, Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith!

Let it be done for you as you wish.”

And her daughter was healed instantly.

Now, Jesus’ initial response to the woman’s plea,

seems out of character to many of us.

If you found yourself scratching your head about

what Jesus initially said to the woman, you’re not alone.

Stating that he was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and saying that it’s not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs;

does sounds rude and insulting to our ears.

So, we may have asked ourselves, “Why was Jesus acting like such a snob?”

Sorry, I don’t know the answer,

but I’ve heard a couple of theories.

One thought is that what Jesus said, was not so much for the woman’s ears as they were for those who were overhearing and observing that conversation.

By this time, Jesus’ disciples had already witnessed Jesus reaching out to a leper, a Roman centurion, a woman with uncontrollable hemorrhaging, and a man possessed by a demon.

Those were all people who were seen by society as being sinners and outcasts; people who were un-worthy, of even associating with.

Yet, Jesus showed mercy on each of them anyway.

In spite of those numerous examples of free and untethered kindness, the disciples indicated that they were offended by the woman’s shouting.

Possibly Jesus decided to mimic the kind of insensitive statements that were commonly sputtered in those days,

just so he could then, erase all that hatred, with unconditional love.

Another notion, could be an affirmation, that Jesus was truly human.

As he walked the earth, as one of us, he too, needed to learn and gain a better understanding, just like we do, of what his purpose was.

Was he sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel?

Or was he discovering along the way, that he actually had a much broader mission?

We may ask ourselves similar questions.

• Is our responsibility to provide for our own family?

• Is our purpose to serve our friends here at St. Patrick’s?

The answer can be, “Yes,” to both of those questions.

It can also be a ”Yes,” to these questions as well.

• Are there ways we’re needed in our local community?

• or maybe even on the other side of the world?

Those of us who have approached our senior years might feel like because of health struggles or mobility challenges, our sense of purpose and usefulness has diminished from when we were younger.

But there are still ways by which we can invite God to work through us.

Here are a few ideas;

• We can pick up the phone and re-connect with someone

we haven’t talked to for some time.

• Write a note or mail a card to someone.

I’m sure getting something other than an ad, a bill, or a plea for a donation, would lift anyone’s spirit.

• Take time to write in a journal or simply read an inspiring book.

• Here’s a good one. Do something meaningful by doing nothing.

This is also called meditation or contemplation.

We can spend some silent time listening for what God maybe saying to us instead of us doing all the talking, while we pray.

Those of us who are younger might feel that because of day-to-day work responsibilities, (or the quest to find work,) social commitments, and child rearing, are so time consuming that there isn’t any room, to find opportunities for purposeful endeavors.

In that time in our lives, we can remind ourselves that if

our employment, our social lives, and our family concerns, all involve: serving the needs of family, friends, clients, customers or even strangers, then our lives are filled with purposeful undertakings!

I have something for us to ponder.

Think about things we like to create.

It may be writing music, cooking a tasty meal, planning and teaching a lesson, knitting scarves, taking something broken and making it workable again, even casting our votes on election day helps create the opportunities

for people to serve the public.

The list of things, situations, products and services we create has no end.

Now I ask, “What do all the things we create have in common?”

My answer is: With all of the things we do and create, we have a purpose in mind.

Now consider this. Since we’re all children of God,

who have been created in the image of God,

that means that God has a purpose in mind for each of us too.

~ ~ ~

And, that said, let us pray.

Most Holy God,

When feelings of emptiness or doubt creep into our minds, fill our hearts with peace and quiet assurance that our lives do matter deeply.

Guide us toward the things that bring true meaning—

loving others, serving with kindness, and walking faithfully each day.

Reveal the unique purposes You have placed within our life, and grant us the courage to follow the path You have prepared for us.

Amen.

Sources:

The New Interpreters Study Bible, NRSV with Apocrypha, Abington Press, Nashville, 2003

Dwight from 'The Office' reveals why fame failed to bring joy, Maggie Penman, Washington Post, Detroit News, June 15, 2026

Joseph’s Faith, Ligonier Ministries, Sanford, FL