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One challenge that the gospel writers leave with us is that they generally don’t fill out their stories…we hear only the bare bones. Jesus’ friends try to dissuade him from attending to the foreigner. Jesus ignores them. But what was Jesus thinking when he referred to the Canaanite woman and her daughter as dogs? What were his tone and facial expression? Was he teasing her? Or perhaps testing her faith?
To most of us, Jesus would seem shockingly rude, and the woman’s persistence all the more remarkable. Why does she demean herself by continuing her plea? The answer lies in her great love for her daughter and her conviction that Jesus is a holy person. I imagine that Jesus’ voice conveyed immense kindness the second time he spoke.
Today’s readings make clear that God’s saving grace and care are for all nationalities, races, and religions. How do we respond to the outsider? Do we emulate Jesus? Do we, like the woman, confidently bring the needs of those we love to Jesus?