He's August Landmesser, one of thousands of Germans gathered at a shipyard during the Second World War for a dedication ceremony. And when the crowd is asked to

show its approval with the Nazi seig heil, they all do. Except August Landmesser.

Turns out that this proud German had been harboring doubts about the new regime, he had a Jewish girlfriend he was unable to marry, and he was not going to sit by idly and just go along to get along.

In the face of monolithic support for Hitler, August Landmesser said 'no,' he would not support a racist ideology, he would not support an aggressive military, he would not suppress his conscience. Instead he would speak up. No matter the cost. He would not stay silent. And he alone in the crowd, would end up on the right side of history.

Its conviction like this we will hear about on Sunday when a non-Jewish (Syrophoenician) woman breaks with all social decorum and asks Jesus to heal her sick daughter. At first, Jesus is taken aback. Yet her persistence and faith in the character and power of God wins the day - she holds her ground, talks back to Jesus, and her daughter is healed.

It’s clear that Our Lord commends those who stand up and speak out, after all, that’s what got him killed. So as followers of Jesus, we have to take this seriously: Am I silent in the face of inequality and persecution? Do I choose the easy path of cordial acquiescence? How am I shunning any temptation to speak up?

Like the Syrophoenician woman, how are we being invited to boldness? What issue(s) are we being asked to champion? How might we see ourselves as alone in the crowd?