The God of Jesus Christ offers salvation to all without exception, all the time; this assertion brings joy and peace to our lives. The Gospel account refers to a Jesus who, being a marginal Jew is able to relate to a foreign woman. The simple fact of breaking down walls and building bridges was something unheard of at the time of Jesus. The Israelites had grown accustomed to believing that "their God" made them superior to others simply because they were children of Abraham. It is Jesus, the teacher of Galilee, who praises the faith of this Canaanite woman and therefore she was considered an enemy of Israel. If we add to this religious prejudice the sexist bias that demeans women and the xenophobia of all foreigners, we can only but admire the change of attitude to which we are called to be the sons and daughters of God. Hence, as part of our following of Jesus we are called to live and respect others who are different from us. 

       This Sunday's Word of God sheds light on the problem of prejudice and discrimination that can manifest in multiple ways throughout our lives. The challenge of Jesus is to end all racism and exclusionary nationalism in our society. God has come to save everyone in Christ Jesus. Salvation is not a privilege of some men who think themselves better than others. To receive this salvation, Christ asks for the same faith and humility shown by this foreign woman, Jesus saves those who open to Him... "Woman, how great is your faith!"

Fr. Hernán, S.J.