Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon and entered a house, wishing that no one should know. But He could not be hidden, for a Gentile woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of Him and came and fell at His feet.

She was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. At first He answered nothing, then said He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and that it was not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.

The woman was not turned away. She answered that even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs, humbly claiming a place for mercy where she had no right to demand one.

Jesus marveled at her reply and said, O woman, great is your faith. For this saying, He told her, the demon had left her daughter; be it done as she desired.

She went home and found the child lying in bed, the demon gone. A Gentile mother's humble, stubborn faith drew out the mercy of Christ before the appointed hour of the Gentiles had fully come.