Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon.  Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon."  But he did not answer her at all.  And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us."  He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."  But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."  He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."  She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."  Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish."  And her daughter was healed instantly.

This is a lesson on perseverance, faith and persistence in prayer.  It is so often the case that Jesus does not seem to hear us when we ask for healing.  And so we accept our torment as God's will.  But to take the Canaanite woman's example we must not only ask but shout and keep on shouting.  When Jesus still does not answer us we must go to him, kneel before him and beg for his help.  How badly do we want healed?  Badly enough to take this bold step of presumption before our creator?  Jesus tells her it is not fair for him to grant her request.  At this point would not our souls fail us and we would return home?  Who are we to contend with God?  Yet the woman's love for her daughter compels her to continue arguing her case.  She throws all politeness, properness and propriety to the wind and meets Christ's response with her own argument.  Her tenacity finally pays off.

Are we to act this way whenever our Lord does not seem to answer our prayer for healing?  I do not know.  But I do know that the depth of our love can be measured by our perseverance in prayer.  Our hope and trust in God's mercy and forbearance as well.  And these are all qualities in us that Jesus in his mercy would have increase.