Aurora Celestin: "Gifts for All" (Sermon for August 16, 2026)

She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." - Matthew 15:27 Matthew's retelling of the story of the Samaritan woman is my favorite in the Bible. What is so special about it is that we get to see Jesus in his imperfection. Even Jesus gets tripped up by the boundaries of ethnic difference and responds to this Samaritan woman unkindly. But it is the Samaritan woman's audacious persistence that wins Jesus over, reminding him that God's grace is a gift for all no matter our identity. In this way, this truly remarkable woman changes Jesus' ministry toward greater perfection. I can't wait to explore this story with you. See you Sunday! Rev. Aurora