Matthew 15:21-28  ".. Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon."  If you look at a map.. this area was quite a ways from Galilee.  Tyre is on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The mountains of Lebanon surround it on the east. This was a long and difficult trip to a land outside of Israel..  yet, Jesus goes there...for one divine encounter.. 

One woman is intent on getting Jesus' attention.  One woman calls upon Him for mercy on behalf of her daughter.. "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."  Here is Jesus.. outside of Israel.. being beseeched by a  Canaanite woman.. whom the disciples want to send away. And then Jesus says to her, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." 

But, the woman does not give up. "Lord, help me!"  she pleads.  Jesus answered, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."  Even then, the woman does not give up and she does not get offended. "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their master's table." 

It is then... in the light of her faith and her humility that Jesus grants her request.. "O woman, your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish."  

Great faith.. calls upon the One who is able to do what no one else can do. 

Great faith.. does not give up or give in. 

Great faith.. humbly accepts whatever it is that the Lord wishes to give. 

Great faith.. acknowledges that even the "crumbs" of God's mercy.. are more than enough. 

Jesus leaves and returns to the Sea of Galilee after this. 

He met one woman.  

He answered one prayer.  

He found faith in one Gentile woman that was greater than that of many Israelites.  Isn't that wonderful!

Father in heaven, may we have this kind of great faith.. to call upon the Name of Jesus.. to not give up but to persist in prayer.. to know that You are the God of the impossible and that You alone can deliver us from the cruelty of the evil one.  We come to You, Jesus, for help in our times of need. You are our refuge and strength, our Healer and King. No mountains stand in Your way.  Nothing can separate us from Your love!  It is Your Name that we praise. It is You that we trust and obey.  Be with us. Come and make Your Presence known in our midst today. We ask this in Jesus' name.  Amen.