What?

From there, Jesus went to the regions of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from those territories came out and shouted, “Show me mercy, Son of David. My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession.” But he didn’t respond to her at all. His disciples came and urged him, “Send her away; she keeps shouting out after us.” Jesus replied, “I’ve been sent only to the lost sheep, the people of Israel.” But she knelt before him and said, “Lord, help me.” He replied, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and toss it to dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord. But even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall off their masters’ table.” Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith. It will be just as you wish.” And right then her daughter was healed. Jesus moved on from there along the shore of the Galilee Sea. He went up a mountain and sat down. Large crowds came to him, including those who were paralyzed, blind, injured, and unable to speak, and many others. They laid them at his feet, and he healed them. So the crowd was amazed when they saw those who had been unable to speak talking, and the paralyzed cured, and the injured walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. (Matthew 15:21-31, CEB)

I have always had issues with this text. Jesus calls this woman a dog. She was not from where Jesus was and culturally it was acceptable for people where Jesus was from to call Canaanites dogs. But that is really out of character for Jesus. He spoke with the Samaritan woman and ate with sinners, tax collectors, and adulterers. Why this woman?

She shows great faith and shows that Jesus can be more open than his people. Maybe that is the reason. Jesus shows that all people even those who we have been culturally taught to say are bad or not acceptable are actually part of God’s creation. All humanity deserves what we get.

Love like Jesus and freely share God’s gifts with all.

Loving People. Loving God.