Mt 15:21-28
21Jesus... withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not say a word in answer to her. His disciples came and asked him, “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.” 24He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
25But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” 28Then Jesus said to her in reply, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.
Woman of Great Faith: When Jesus sent the Twelve on a mission, he told them to go “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Mt 10:6). They were to avoid pagan territories and Samaritan towns. In today’s Gospel, Jesus enters the region of Tyre and Sidon in Phoenicia inhabited by pagans. Will he contradict himself by ministering to the pagans?
When approached by a native woman, Jesus ignores her. In a society which lives by the code of honor and shame, Jesus reminds her that they are not of equal status: he is an Israelite, she is a woman and a pagan. Matthew has already marked the distance by referring to the woman as “Canaanite” (instead of “Syro-Phoenician”), an Old Testament expression designating the pagan inhabitants of Palestine who were distinct from and hostile to the people of God. Jesus’ initial refusal is even made harsher when he refers to the Gentiles as dogs. He apparently repeats his culture’s stereotype, but calling someone a dog is offensive in any language or culture.
To the amazement of those around, including Jesus, the woman fights back in an “honor game” of challenge and riposte. She is not put off. She says that as a pagan, she may be a dog, but even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the master’s table. She proves to be a good match to Jesus’ wit.
Jesus must have felt happily surprised in having found a match in the pagan woman. He grants her request, admiring her great faith. “Faith” in the Mediterranean culture is understood as loyalty no matter what. The woman is committed to Jesus even before she meets him. She is not put off by his initial aloofness and his subsequent insult. She is committed to be loyal to Jesus no matter how rudely he behaves towards her. In the end, her loyalty and commitment pay off.