In today’s Gospel reading, the Canaanite woman risks everything – - discrimination, rejection, and the embarrassment of some basic abject begging – - to ensure a healing for our daughter.  She lets go of everything to obtain that which is essential.

We who are about youth ministry and discipleship will continually find this as our challenge.  First, we have to convey how essential discipleship is in our lives and in the lives of our church community.  Then, we (in cooperation with the Spirit) must encourage young people outside their comfort zone (their ducky) to fully experience joining with the chorus in the song of following the Lord.  We remain confident that when they "put that quacker down" and experience the true joy of sax, opps, discipleship; they will be hard-put to ever return. (If you want an "all star" version of this song, see here)