The Bible teaches us that Jesus was like us in all things but sin. Since learning is part of the human condition, Jesus had to learn. One time he learned was when he met the Syro-phoenician woman. He was on vacation and the last thing he wanted was to be bothered by a stranger, not only a stranger but a pagan, a non-Jew. He was clear about his mission. In St. Matthew’s account he articulates it as “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” So when this woman approaches him who isn’t part of the flock he dismisses her. Jesus said to her, “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” Her lively insistence convinces him that his mission is larger than what he had imagined. Jesus had a mission to this Gentile as well. In fact, as St. Mark tells the story after this encounter Jesus immediately goes into the Gentile lands to test how expansive his mission was. What a vivid illustration that we must learn, as Jesus did, not to limit our circle of care to our family and friends. Everyone we meet is a child of God and has a claim on us. Everyone is brother and sister and mother to us.
