Jesus is “gentle (sweet) and humble in heart” (see Mtt 11: 29) . This is his “normal policy and administration”. This time appears as an outstanding exception. His apparent rudeness with the Canaanite “female” – He is not gentle with the “Gentile” woman!- does shock us, at a first glance.

BUT , one has to bear in mind many elements:

The episode is related, both in Mtt and Mk, after a bitter criticism – by Jesus- of the rabbinical tradition, of the jewish mentality about clean and unclean food (see the preceding verses in both Gospels). Now, the wit and faith of a pagan female will be rewarded!!!

Since “all that has been written – has been written for our instruction” (see 1 Cor 10 : 11), the Lord and the two Evangelists WANT us to learn a lot from the event - narrated in the most solemn – and crude – way by Mtt and Mk!

At times, Jesus PROVOKES people in order to draw from their lips acts of faith and of humility.

Jesus had already used the “stratagem” (tactics) – namely being reluctant and resistent- with His own Mother at Cana of Galilee (Jn 2 : 1 -11), claiming simply that He did not want anything to do with the “problem” (the lack of wine), and asking discretely His Mother to stop worrying about a question which did not concern Her :”What concerns you and Me, Woman?” In other words, “It’s their problem! None of our business!”

The HARSH words said by Jesus to the Syro-phoenician woman are QUOTATIONS of the Jewish mentality and position, shared without any shadow of doubt by the very Apostles and Disciples! The Chosen People of the Old Covenant considered themselves as “the Children” and did not hesitate to describe pagans as “dogs” (Strack-Billerbeck, New Testament from talmud and Midrash, I, 722-25). In Mark, Jesus softens the “dogs” into “pups”. So, Jesus is expressing the jewish-rabbinical-disciples’ position which- ultimately- He does not at all share. Had He done so, He would not have accepted to talk to the “pagan female” in the first place.

Jesus expressed also the CLAIM of the Jewish people (and of the Apostles and Disciples) that the Messiah came to them, for them. Jesus’ Jewish contemporaries never hesitated to demand : “Physician, heal yourself” (= your own people). In Arabic a saying goes (inspired by a coranic text) : “the closest people (family members, correligionaries, neighbors…) deserve to be served before the others” (al –aqraboon awla bil-ma’roof).

Jesus DID mean to tease and provoke the “woman” who accepted all these humiliations. Deep down, she knew or felt about Jesus’ power. Deep down and from all eternity, Jesus the Word (see Jn 1 : 1) knew the woman and her situation. At Cana, Jesus DID mean to disregard His Mother’s request, to pretend He did not care and to refuse all miraculous intervention, a bit like here.

On both occasions, the feminine reaction was instructive and decisive – NO surprise for Jesus, the all-knowing Word: the Virgin Mother imposed Her will, by a firm “fait accompli” (She asked the stewards to obey Jesus althoug He had no intention whatsoever to interfere, thus embarrassing Him, as a Woman knows to do!) and the Syro-phoenician woman gave such a witty reply(“the small dogs eat the leftovers which fall from the children’s bread or table”) that Jesus looked disarmed. BUT both reactions of both ladies had been foreseen by the Lord!

Another “lesson”, good for the Jews in general, the Apostles- Disciples in particular, and to all “man”kind (the “male chuvinist”one!), WOMEN are less dull than one (in the rabbinical mentality) might think! Don’t despise Women: they eventually get what they want, although they look so weak and, sometimes”, “unclean” – because of some of their physiological circumstances. A french proverb asserts :”Ce que femme veut, Dieu le veut!” “What woman wants, God wants it”! (Napoleon used to say :”Cherchez la femme!”, “Look for the woman!”)

Perhaps we have here an example of the wit –which was characteristic of Jesus’ milieu, in the framework of didactic irony and of “peasant good humor” rather than of a theological debate.

Another clear lesson and conclusion : pagans – even female pagans- are God’s creatures and can also be beneficiaries of God’s wonders. BUT Jesus wanted a strong, deep and heroic act of faith, humility and courage from the woman. Compare in Jn 4 : Jesus provokes the Samaritan female sinner:”Call your husband!”

How gracious this miracle – the healing of the Canaanite woman’s daughter- how rich the dialogue! Had Jesus performed it quickly and without reluctance, we would not have learned all these things!