Our readings begin this week with these words: “Observe what is right, do what is just” (Isaiah 56:1). Our Gospel concludes with this instruction: “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” (Matthew 15:28).

The Gospel offered the rather strange account of the debate between Jesus and the Canaanite woman, a pagan. The roots of her religion were ancient, and polytheistic, worshiping multiple gods and goddesses, with El as their principal male deity. Modern biblical scholars link this religion to the ancient roots of the Jewish people, as the word “Isra-El” means “El rules.”  Perhaps due to this historic link – already ancient at the time of Jesus – those Jewish people had a deep and powerful disdain for the Canaanites; they had fallen behind.

Jesus’ interaction shows however, the progression and evolution of authentic faith: first the Israelites committed themselves to one God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And now they were completing the promises of Yahweh through the prophet Isaiah as they declared their faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah.  For the Israelites, this progression of faith extended over thousands of years; for the Canaanite mother, who asked for healing for her daughter, the progression took place during an interaction with Jesus where he was eating.  Minutes? Perhaps some days in advance as she observed and listened to Him from the fringes of the crowd?

The culmination of her faith is captured in the exclamation by Jesus: “O woman, great is your faith!”

Those words should give us pause to examine where our own hearts are in our commitment and faith in Jesus; are we ready to receive the same exclamation from Jesus?

I know that every one of you reading this note want to shout “Yes! I am His disciple! I believe!”

But … do our actions speak louder than our words, or our hearts? Can we look back on this past week, and see complete adherence to the Gospel?  Did you have a moment where you did not forgive your enemies, and love them? Did you have a time when you set aside our beliefs for convenience, or to avoid secular criticism.  Did we “Witness the Gospel with our lives” for all 168 hours this week?  I wish I could say that I did, but I know that I did not; we all have moments of impatience, of judgement, of pride.

So let us ask Jesus for a humble heart, like the Canaanite woman, to express our faith more fully each moment of the coming week.