She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” [Mark’s Gospel 7.26-28]

What happens when Jesus says something which we think he should not have said? How do you feel when Jesus says something which, from anyone else, would create a response of condemnation or criticism, at the very least?

A common response is that we try to ameliorate what Jesus has said, or we make excuses for him, by claiming he meant something different, or the translation misses the nuance of the words, or he didn’t call her a dog, it was more like a puppy.

We are so caught up in the moment, we don’t see Jesus as the human being God has so clearly intended him to be.

Exhausted, driven, with little chance to rest and facing criticism from the Jewish leadership and many in the community, Jesus seeks refuge in a Gentile town where he hopes he is not known. He slips into a home, and looks for a space to stop, perhaps seeking a moment’s sanctuary. Not a chance.

This mother of a desperately ill daughter, unnamed but identified, falls at Jesus’ feet and begs him for help. Could there be a more significant contrast with the confrontation of the Pharisees and lawyers from whom Jesus has just taken refuge?

However, Jesus dismisses her with a word and a cruel name. For half a breath, we don’t know what to think. And yet, this mother behaves as mothers have behaved throughout history, doing anything to save her child. She answers back, challenging and correcting Jesus.

We hold our breath for another heartbeat. And Jesus is recalled to the breadth and depth of his ministry; not just to the people of Israel, but to all who hunger and thirst for justice and mercy.

In the Old Testament, we hear Abraham, Moses and the Psalmist call God to remember mercy, to remember justice, to remember God’s people. Just like the patriarchs and prophets, this Gentile woman, this foreign mother, calls Jesus to discover and to remember that the hope of life inherent in Jesus is for everyone.

Just as God has cause to remember at the call of his people, so does Jesus. A young girl is given life and the gospel story expands before our eyes from the nation of Israel to a deaf man, to four thousand hungry Gentiles and thus, to us – and all creation.