Abraham was called by God so that everyone would find out what can happen to everyone when God offers hope and help and forgiveness. Even a wandering shepherd, like Abraham, can be picked by God and used by God and shaped by God and loved by God.

And so, when Jesus says, “I was sent to the lost sheep of Israel”. He was talking about a “finding” that was going to extend from Israel to everyone. It wasn’t an exclusivist statement. He wasn’t saying that he couldn’t heal or wouldn’t heal or was commanded not to heal anyone else.

He wasn’t saying that one ethnicity or nation was exclusively or judgmentally the best nation.

In fact, at this moment, the Jewish people, Jesus’ people, were an occupied nation, a minority population in the Roman empire.

They were, from a human perspective, nothing special. But from God’s perspective, they were chosen to be blessed with Jesus to be a blessing to all nations.

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All that theology is nice.

But at this moment, the disciples wanted Jesus to themselves.

And at this moment, a mom wanted her daughter to be well.

So while the disciples were weighing the theological statement Jesus had just made, the mother dropped to her knees in front of Jesus and said, “Lord, help me.”

It was a risky thing to do. At least a dozen men and she puts herself at the mercy of their leader.

Jesus looks at her and quotes a cultural prejudice. “It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

She comes right back: “Yes, Lord,” she said, “yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

I wish we had the stage directions in the Bible.

For me, I imagine Jesus laughing. The biggest, gentlest laugh you can imagine.

No one else is laughing. The woman was still in argument mode. The disciples are trying to figure out how to get rid of this annoying pest who pushed her way to the feet of Jesus. And Jesus is laughing.

And eventually because laughter is contagious, everyone else begins to laugh too.

Finally, Jesus says, “Woman, your faith is great. Let it be done for you as you want.”

Why was he laughing?

Because all the way through this story, he’s saying clichés that reflect the beliefs of the disciples. They have been nodding every time he has been quoting the traditions, quoting the stereotypes. And this woman doesn’t care about the clichés.

And Jesus knew it.

He engaged in conversation. He allowed her to be part of their conversation.

He walked 50 miles to meet this woman and heal her daughter.

He knew exactly what he was about. To seek and to save. To bless so that people can being a blessing.