Today’s Gospel reading is Matthew 15:21-28. The Canaanite woman comes to Jesus to beg for healing for her daughter. She asks for a gift and Jesus engages in some wordplay.

Jesus is using the stereotypes from His own era to call forth her faith. While Canaanites were looked on as “dogs”, as “less than”, Jesus uses this stereotype to show that everyone, even those who are considered to be “less than”, are capable of great faith!

Ultimately, the Canaanite woman ends up making an act of great faith! She is both humble and faithful enough to say “I’ll take even the leftovers”. Jesus wants us to come to Him with the same courage and humility. Do we pray with presumption or humility? May we today have the faith, the humility, and the courage of the Canaanite woman as we approach Jesus with our requests.