To the Little Dogs

Matthew 15:21-28, at first reading, the exchange can feel jarring and raises difficult questions about the character of Jesus and the nature of His response. But passages like this invite us not to read quickly or dismissively. Instead, they challenge us to slow down and examine the scene more carefully—its context, its language, and the interaction unfolding between Jesus and the woman.

When we look more closely, we may discover that what appears troubling on the surface is revealing something far deeper about faith, persistence, and the expanding reach of God’s mercy.