Jesus withdraws to a territory, outside Israel; he wished to go unrecognised! But a desperate woman recognises his hiding place, and came straight into the house, throwing herself at his feet. What is he to do? His "ministry" was specifically towards the "lost sheep of the house of Israel!" His initial response was to seemingly deny her request, for the deliverance of her daughter! But the woman's amazing display of faith and utter dependence on him, won him over! He is in fact in admiration of her faith: your faith is great! (Mt. 15:28) She literally wrests the healing and deliverance of her daughter! Her faith in Jesus, changes his orientation, towards 'uncovenanted' people like her, whose faith far surpasses that of the 'chosen' people.

Faith has less to do with our head than with the heart! The woman's heart was in her faith in Jesus! She was not going to give up easily as Jesus realized from her response to his re-buff! Faith includes a necessary surrendering of our dignity. We learn by going where we have to go, where we dare not go!

God enters into our questions, he does not provide the answers! For us as for the woman "reality" is the best teacher. God is in the circumstances we are in! We need only to let go!