Today's Gospel presents us with one of the most powerful and challenging encounters in the ministry of Jesus: the encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman. The woman comes to Jesus with a desperate cry: "Have pity on me, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon." She is a mother in pain. She has reached a point where she knows that human strength is no longer enough. She has heard about Jesus, and she believes that He can help her.

Jesus does not immediately answer her. The Gospel tells us that Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. She cries out and there is silence. She asks again and there is no immediate response.