The thrust of today's readings reminds us that the kind of struggles that we experience to-day between different faith traditions is nothing new. They call us to be able to see that there is a difference between living and preaching the Gospel. Isaiah was writing during the period of the Babylonian exile, when the nation of Israel was surrounded by the dominant culture of Babylon. It was in this climate of having to live with many different beliefs that he wrote: "For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples." This opened the door for the acceptance of the Gentiles into the fledgling Christian community of the time of the Apostles.

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, writes about the struggle within the Jewish community to accept outsiders. Jesus exemplifies this in His acceptance of the wisdom of the Canaanite woman. She is an outsider and yet, she is able to recognize that Jesus, the son of David, is the Master. And in this way she, an outsider, is able to teach those who are already followers of Jesus. There are many struggles going on in our Church and in our world between many different faiths. Jesus is saying that there is much to be learned in that struggle and that He is there to help us on our way.