Chemnitz’s Homily Outline for Dominica Reminiscere (Lent 2)

The following is a translation of Chemnitz’s homily outline for Reminiscere (Lent 2), found in his Postilla (Vol. I, pg. 484–85). Chemnitz uses a combination of the account from Matthew 15:21–28 and Mark 7:24–30. I have added allusions to other biblical passages in square brackets.

Chemnitz’s Outline:

“Now in order that we may take away something useful for ourselves for our teaching (Lehr), remembrance (Erinnerung), and comfort (Trost), we want to deal with these parts in the Gospel:

1. First, why God sends the cross and afflicts this Canaanite woman and thus all pious Christians; namely, if we otherwise do not want to come to him, the lust of the world, the lust of the eyes, and prideful life (read: hoffärtiges Leben) would lead us away from the Kingdom of Christ and keep us from it; that we thus would be led through cross and affliction to the Lord Christ, as this woman was through her house cross (Hauß Kreuz) on her daughter; and that we would be kept with Him as the true Shepherd of our souls [1 Peter 2:25] to eternal life.
2. Second, when we now come to Christ with our needs, that we ought to ground our prayer in these two points: (1) First, that He, as a proven Son of God, can help mightily in more ways than we can think or comprehend [Ephesians 3:20], and (2) thereafter also as our dear fellow Brother, according to His human nature, He bears a heartfelt compassion toward our misery, and wants to willingly and gladly help us.
3. Third, how if He were to delay with His help for a long time, and we were to cry out in vain for a long time, how we should learn to right ourselves in His mind, overcome the trial (Anfechtung) with patience, and take comfort in His promise that He will not deceive (read: betrügen) us, but rather will give us all that our hearts desire.
4. In conclusion, the use of the account of the Canaanite woman, how we can make use of her example throughout all of our Christianity.”