Answer

"Jesus did not answer the woman," Matthew 15:23.

So, this mother's child has a demon tormenting her severely. The mom, kneeling, keeps on begging Jesus for mercy. But Jesus ignores her - why? Well, what does the Good Book say? Here's what it says. It says: Because she was a Canaanite woman. Because she didn't belong to the right nationality. Because if the right culture were human children, her culture was dogs. Yep. It's all laid out pretty straightforward for us. Wrong language. Wrong race. Wrong color. Wrong gender. Wrong status. Now, we're a bit uncomfortable with the explanation, to be sure, but we get it. And, when Jesus' followers tell Jesus to tell her to get lost, we get that, too. But, suddenly, Jesus speaks directly to her: Woman, you have great faith - what you want is done! Hmm. Oh. God's children belong to the culture of faith. God's mercy is for all. Ah. We get it.

Meeting with a brother or sister today, we give thanks to Jesus that when we called out to him for healing, he did. And, together, we give thanks to God who receives children for himself by faith out of every nation.