Think for a moment about the people you love the most your spouse, your children, your closest friends, or the members of your community. Now, think about the last time one of them completely irritated you, hurt your feelings, or drove you up the wall. It doesn’t take long to remember, does it? The truth is, loving people is easy until love asks you to confront them.

God’s word today encourages us, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds.” St Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, encourages those who call themselves Christians (that is, those who profess that they are disciples of Jesus Christ) to live up to their vocation to be true disciples of Jesus Christ by living in a way different from other people who do not accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. (The popular hymn, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back,” can be a background for our understanding of this text.) There are three key words in this very important exhortation: the words are: “conformed,” “this world,” and “minds.”

Every single experience we have leaves a mark on how we view the world. The challenges we endure, the people we cross paths with, and the everyday moments of our lives all weave together to shape our sense of meaning and purpose.

The encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman initially leaves us shocked and even troubled. How could Jesus, who is always compassionate and merciful, appear so harsh towards a woman who was in great distress? How could He remain silent in the face of her suffering? How could He say that He was sent only to a particular group of people?