Both of the Markan stories appointed for this week take place in the land of the Gentiles. We have pointed out this Gentile ministry of Jesus in earlier chapters. His Gentile ministry will come to a climax in chapter 8 with the feeding of the Gentile multitude. Today's story of the healing of the daughter of a Syrophoenician woman is an incredible symbol of the breaking down of false barriers for the sake of mission. Jesus breaks all kinds of barriers in this story. He breaks down geographical barriers by moving into Gentile lands. He breaks down ethnic barriers in his dealings with a Greek woman. He breaks down sexual barriers as well. It was a radical thing for Jesus to encounter a woman the way he does in this story. The heavens have been opened and God is loose in the world in Jesus Ch…