We often forget or lose sight of what is essential. Sometimes that means we become prisoners to the moment and the latest fashion or way of thinking dominates us. Other times a custom we are used to becomes so embedded in our lives our very identity is tied up in it. Often, new fads or old customs tell us who is in and who is out. That can become a very serious problem. It can prevent us from seeing what God is doing or wants to do, in the lives of people all around us. That was true 2000 years ago and it remains true today. In the first century, who was in and who was out was tied up in clean vs. unclean. Today we have different words, but the heart of it, is the idea that some people aren't really people, they are a problem. I'm convinced Jesus wants to help us look deeper and see others through the eyes of grace and love. If we take this week's scripture seriously we will see that Jesus wants his followers to listen to and learn from so-called outsiders.