Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, August 16, 2023 -- THREE
~ Letters to the Editor ~
Good News Only by Doris Brosnan
Spiritually Speaking
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This week for our meditation and reflections we have
for accuracy of statements made in letters. Any letters expressing thanks
the
beautiful
Gospel Narration of the Canaanite woman
will be placed in the classifieds under “Card of Thanks” at a cost of $10.
and
her
faith
expression. Often, when we make choices
Email to editor@rapidserve.net or upload to Heppner.net.
Cling to Jesus in faith like the
Canaanite woman
Lookin’ for
love
Sometimes I wonder
what drives people. I know
there are a lot of little rea-
sons we do things. We all
have opinions, passions and
emotions that make our de-
cisions for us. But I get the
feeling there’s one common
denominator between us all,
and that one thing is behind
much of what we do.
Did you know if an in-
fant isn’t touched or given
enough attention, they can
physically “fail to thrive”
and have a higher chance of
illness and death? They also
develop abnormal hormone
levels that regulate their
social behaviors. Looks like
we were made with a pretty
powerful need to be loved.
I think that’s the motivator.
So how much love is
enough? What does it take
to fill that void in our lives
that keeps us searching for
significance? The search is
powerful. And it can lead
us to some pretty damaging
places, doing things just to
be accepted and compro-
mising our common sense.
I believe it explains why
we find ourselves scratch-
ing our heads as we watch
the decisions some folks
make. Really? That was
a good choice? But when
you’re looking for love…
squeezing to fit in might
seem worth it…even when
it’s stupid.
Our human compan-
ions are not always great
at filling the love void. Our
actions don’t always speak
the needed love language.
You can tell someone you
love them, then call them
names and throw things at
them 10 minutes later…sor-
ta negates the whole idea.
The kind of love we
need has to translate to
something more than a
fleeting emotion or physical
attraction. We need to know
that we have value, not just
for what we do or contrib-
ute, but for who we are.
We want to be important.
That’s what value is. But
even when we’re blessed
with someone who brings
us coffee (or chocolate), it
just seems like the search
still continues. It keeps us
longing for more and we ar-
en’t even sure what “more”
looks like…. More of what?
Maybe it’s because
most love we receive from
each other is conditional.
But here’s the good news.
God loves us…no matter
what. The hot mess we’ve
become doesn’t deter His
love. The mountains of “is-
sues” we have don’t deter
Him. And the sins we’ve
piled up don’t stop Him.
In fact, the kind of love He
has for us is the kind we
were made for. We can try
everything under the sun to
satisfy that longing we have
and come up empty.
Jesus said there’s no
greater love than to lay
down your life for your
friends. He did exactly that.
He died in our place and
took the punishment we de-
serve. That is perfect love.
It’s the only kind that fits.
“For God so loved the
world that he gave his one
and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life”
(John 3:16).
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
Over the Tee Cup
t was sunny and hot on
Tuesday, Aug. 15—possi-
bly too hot for all but the six
players who turned out for
the ladies play day at Wil-
low Creek Country Club.
Low gross of the field
went to Virginia Grant. Low
net went to Pat Dougherty,
and Karen Thompson had
least putts of the field.
For flight A, Virginia
Grant had the long drive.
For flight C, Kris Lind-
ner had low gross, Karen
Smith-Griffith low net and
long drive, and Lorrene
Montgomery had least
putts.
among things, events, places and even persons, we tend
to exclude other things, events, places and even persons.
Sometimes we blame ourselves as well as others for
making a wrong choice, on the basis of our prejudices.
The scripture readings for this week challenge us to break
down our prejudices and exclude no one. The Canaanite
woman in the Gospel teaches us that our Christian vo-
cation is to reconcile all people to God. The message of
this single woman to every one of us today is: ‘Be not
afraid.’ Be not afraid to challenge prejudice.
The first reading from Prophet Isaiah (56:1, 6-7)
describes the Israelites, after their return from exile in
Babylon, who find their homeland occupied by foreigners
whom the people of Israel deeply ostracized. Isaiah pro-
claims that the foreigners who joined themselves to the
Lord had to be accepted. We are told that no one can be
saved by one’s own power. Only God can save us. Salva-
tion is open to all. Anyone who is really determined to be
saved will be saved. And no one can claim the right to be
saved. We are saved only through God’s mercy and love.
The Gospel of Matthew (15:21-28) narrates the re-
ligious exclusion prevalent among the Jews even in the
time of Jesus. The Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel
is not Jew; she is a Gentile. The woman symbolizes all
who are regarded as unclean by Jesus’s own people. This
woman comes to Jesus with a request on behalf of her
sick daughter: “Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My
daughter is tormented by a devil.” The mission of Jesus
had been limited to a short period of time and confined to
the Jews. We note that restriction first in the observation
that He answers her not a word, and then in His statement
that He was sent to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
The silence of Jesus suggests a refusal to minister to
this woman’s needs. This is how His disciples interpret
it and plead with Jesus to get rid of her. Jesus explains
His exclusive mission to the woman. She is outside the
territory of His pastoral concern.
The Canaanite woman teaches us that to reconcile all
humankind to God takes courage. Given her position as a
stranger and as a woman, it took phenomenal courage on
her part to decide to take on the all-Jewish and all-male
company of Jesus and His disciples. She was so small
that, even though she addresses Jesus by His proper Mes-
sianic titles – “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David”
(v.22) – Jesus still ignores her: “He did not answer her
at all” (v.23a). Most people at this point would give up
and accept defeat. But not this Canaanite woman. Rather
she intensifies her efforts and embarks on a one-woman
demonstration to the point that the disciples had to ask
Jesus to do something about it: “Send her away, for she
keeps shouting after us” (v.23b).
But the woman has no intention of getting into a
theological argument. All she knows is that her daughter
is ill and needs Jesus. She goes after what she wants with
perseverance. She stops Jesus in His tracks by kneeling at
His feet. “Lord,” she says, “help me!” Jesus responds with
apparent harsh words: “It is not right to take the children’s
food and throw it to the dogs.” Jesus’s apparent harshness
was meant to test her faith. The woman is not diverted
by this offensive rebuff. She hangs onto the reason she
is there. She tells Jesus that even the dogs can eat scraps
that fall from the master’s table. In her response, she has
outwitted Him and Jesus has the grace to give in. “Wom-
an, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.” Her
courage and her refusal to take no for an answer finally
pays off. Jesus says, “Woman, great is your faith! Let
it be done for you as you wish” (v.28),” and the woman
gets what she wanted. Her daughter is healed.
Similarly, like the Canaanite woman, if we cling to
the person called Jesus, surely He will have pity on us
and grant our hearts’ desires.
Last week was the last for swimming lessons at the
Heppner swimming pool, and lessons at the Ione pool
ended the week before. At both pools, the lessons were
free this year! Both pools will continue to be open for
the public until Aug. 26 in Heppner and Aug. 27 in Ione.
Maybe readers who do not Facebook are not aware that
entrance to the Heppner pool on Mondays is also free,
and in Ione, a “ladies swim” is offered every weekday
morning from 7:30 to 8:30! Great facilities both! The Ione
pool also continues to be available for two more weeks
after closing to the public so that Ione school students
can have sessions of PE instructions.
Moan, groan…. Time for daily doubles! The good
news for these athletes is that the work they do now will
pay dividends when sports seasons arrive, right?
Last Sunday, Mary Ann Elguezabal welcomed cous-
ins Randy and Virginia (Dority) Keller from Fruita, CO.
Virginia’s father was MaryAnn’s father’s “baby brother.”
(Virginia and her sister Beth married Keller brothers.)
This is the first visit to Heppner for the Kellers, who plan
to stay until today and have said that they “appreciate the
small town connectedness.” Some of their time will be
spent meeting a few more of Mary Ann’s family for the
first time, including year-old Emily. (MaryAnn has ex-
plained that there are more than 140 ways of spelling the
old Gaelic/Irish surname of Dority, Dougherty, Doherty,
Daugherty, etc….)
Authentic Mexican tacos, tostados, beans and rice
were the fare at St. Patrick’s fundraising dinner on Sun-
day. Over 100 dinners were served, so the storage units
for Fr. Condon’s play costumes will soon become a reality.
This season’s last Music-in-the-Park in Heppner
featured Cory Peterson, a “home grown” young man
who now calls his farm near Pendleton “home.” Without
a break, Cory sang and impressed the audience of about
30 with his nimble playing of his guitar for the full two-
hour program, of which about 80 percent featured his own
compositions. Cory said he does have a day job, working
on the farm that he shares with his wife and daughter,
but continues to enjoy writing and these opportunities
to entertain.
So, the local interested in the number of bridges in
Heppner was apparently wrong with the number 10. Not
clear now: 12 or 14? (Important information!)
Readers are encouraged to look around for what
has brought smiles to their faces and send them along to
dbrosnan123@gmail.com or to call 541-223-1490 with
their tidbits. Small moments oftentimes are sources of
good news.
Hope good news comes to everyone reading this
column!
Morrow County Republicans
announce August meeting
The Morrow County
Republicans will meet at
6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug.
24, at the Bartholomew
Building in Heppner. Pre-
cinct Committee Persons
(PCPs) and anyone interest-
ed in the county Republican
Party are encouraged to
come and join the discus-
sions.
MCRP will be making
plans for participation and
representation at the Ore-
gon Republican Platform
meeting in Pendleton Oct.
19-21. Other agenda items
include PCP appointments
and 2024 budget construc-
tion for events during the
2024 election year.
PCP positions are open
for Lexington, Boardman
and Irrigon. Individuals
interested in one of these
positions are encouraged to
attend this meeting to learn
about the positions. PCP
appointments can be made
during MCRP meetings.
The Republican Par-
ty is open to individuals
interested in conservative
ideals and values. The Re-
publican Party platform can
be found at https://oregon.
gop/. For more information
on the Morrow County
Republican Party, contact
mocoreps@gmail.com.
Mini bakers make big impact
for Shriners
Equipment Purchases • Operating Lines
Committed to
AG Lending
See AMBER and SHANE for
Equipment
and Farmland
AMBER SCHLAICH
270 N. Main Street
Heppner
(541) 676-9125
Ag/Commercial Loan Officer
Purchases
SHANE LAZINKA
280 Main Street
Ione
(541) 422-7466
Ag/Commercial Loan Officer
L-R: Jaxson Nelson, Donna Smith (a.k.a. Grandma Donna) and Olivia Kennedy with one of the
cashier’s checks from the bake sales they did for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Smith has
been teaching the two to bake since beginning to babysit them. Olivia and Jaxson, now known
as Heppner’s Mini Bakers, have done most of the baking and work, aside from handling the
oven. They raised $531.10, which was sent with East team member Ty Boor to the East/West
Shrine game to be given to the hospital. They plan to have more bake sales. -Contributed photo
SPECIALIZING IN AGRICULTURAL & COMMERCIAL LOANS
MEMBER FDIC