A defendant was in prison for arson. He was about to take a lie detector test and a concealed camera caught this: “O God, let me get away with it, just this once.” They used the videotape of his prayer at the trial.

The defendant argued that the recording violated a Canadian law prohibiting the interception of private communication. The prosecutor argued that only communication to other “persons” are included, and God is not a person within the meaning of the law.

“The word person is used to describe someone to whom rights are granted and upon whom obligations are placed. There is no earthly authority which can grant rights or impose duties upon God. I can find no reason to think that the parliament of Canada has attempted to do so.”

The defendant lost.

Not everybody who comes to God, to Christ, stays around to follow Him. Some come to hear His message but when they actually hear it, they walk away.

Many people come to Jesus for the wrong reasons; they want to know what Jesus can do for them rather than what they can do for Jesus. Many people come to faith for what they can get out of it: “O God, let me get away with it, just this once.” If they don’t get what they want, they lose interest.

The woman in Sunday’s Gospel does not lose interest. She keeps asking because she recognizes who Jesus was, and has faith that He would do what she asked.

The portrayal of Jesus is very challenging. The one who is always open to the needs of others suddenly is closed to this woman: At first He ignores her (who?). Jesus has handled demons before, He can do this ...    “But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her”... ignore!

She keeps it up: “Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”“Lord, help me.” She’s begging.
Jesus responds: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” What an insult!

Wait, though ... what names have you used and thrown at others?

“Please, Lord, even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.”

A common sense answer in faith. Her inner strength ... she was heard. Jesus took a long time to answer her request ... even so, she kept asking.

God will answer you; He will answer in a way which is best for you.

It may take a long time; the answer may be different from what you expect; The answer might even be no. (Help me get away with it ... just one more time, I won’t do it again.)

God has a plan for you but that doesn’t preclude your influence; what you say and do matters to God. God works with you and is affected by you in each struggle. Jesus, I believe, was trying to show that anyone can have faith in Him, and will be saved.

God sent His Son for every lost soul, for every sinner, for every human being. Jesus was to bring back to heaven anyone He could win over.

Has He won you over, yet?