Miscellaneous

Gospel:
The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew. (Chapter 15:21-28)

At that time Jesus retired to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman came out of that territory and cried out to Him, saying; “Have pity on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a devil.” He answered her not a word. And His disciples came up and begged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.” But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” He said in answer, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and to cast it to the dogs.” But she said, “Yes, Lord; for even the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done to you as you will.” And her daughter was healed from that moment.

A Gentile with Great Faith
This story, of a humble Gentile woman who is tested and then praised by Jesus for her faith, is mentioned also in Mark 7:24-30 but with two major differences: (1) Matthew says the lost sheep of the house of Israel (V. 24), while Mark says only, "Let the children be filled first." (2) In Matthew the woman is recorded as shouting, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David” (v. 22). The Jewish orientation of Matthew's version accounts for his concern to show Jesus as the Son of David, endowed with divine majesty even in His humanity.

Jesus’ answer should not be understood as an insult, but as a way to reveal the treasure of the woman’s faith. In her can be envisioned the future Gentile Church, the true Israel, coming to Christ. The faith and humility of this woman are shown in that Jesus’ hesitancy was not enough to discourage her. Jesus immediately bestows healing on other Gentiles as well, repeating what had been done among Jews, that the God of Israel might be gloried. Though Jesus focused on Jews, He taught and healed all who came to Him, thus transcending racial distinctions and prejudices.

(Above from The Orthodox Study Bible.)