Jesus’ encounter with the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28) is the second story we reflect on this week. It is a story which reflects intersectionality. Intersectionality are all the layers of exclusion experienced in one person. Jesus encounters an outsider, a woman, a mother, and possibly even a single mother. The one she is advocating for has the additional vulnerability of being a child. This story unfolds at the margins—where ethnicity, gender, and outsider status collide. Her plea is not for herself but for her child, whose suffering represents an even deeper intersection of vulnerability. Her persistence pushes Jesus—and us—toward broader compassion. Jesus’ shift shows that even sacred traditions can expand when confronted by real human need. The circle widens because a marginalized mother refuses to be dismissed. 



Where might I need to allow someone else’s lived experience—especially from the margins—to stretch and reshape my compassion today?