Father Snort

Seeking greatness and glory, Jesus' disciples forgot who they wereas God's people, called not to greatness, but to service, love, and devotion to God and neighbor. They were called to be a light to the nations, not to let the way of the nations become their way. They were called to be Advocates (following the Holy Spirit) rather than Adversaries (following Satan).

"The Rich Man" who wouldn't give up all his possessions to follow Jesus is often blasted as as sinner (as are rich people when referencing this passage). Jesus, however, does not condemn the man. He pities and and sympathizes with him. Jesus knows that God and life in God's kingdom is what the man truly wants, but all of his possessions make that realization difficult for the rich man.

As God's children, we are as important to God as children were to Jesus. The best way to know and love God and to know and love each other is to receive life, God’s kingdom, like a little child. Receive God’s kingdom, receive life with childlike innocence, with wonder, with trust and love, with dependence on God and others, with short memories of wrongs, with forgiveness, and playfulness.

"If you want to be who you want to be, you have to give up who you are." (www.guyforsyth.com) We have habits that are not helpful and can be harmful. If we truly want to live into the Kingdom of God, we need to change those bad habits.

The church is the bride of Christ, seeking to do good not out of a desire to try harder, be better, or one up another group, but rather out of love for Jesus.

Jesus calls Peter, "Satan", the Adversary, when he needed Peter to be guided by the Holy Spirit, the Advocate. James tells us we have springs of fresh and brackish water within us, leading us to speak blessings and curses. Cleaning the well, we can speak more blessing, acting through the Holy Spirit, rather than through the Adversary.

Faith without works is dead. What we do influences and reveals what our faith truly is. We're often tired and irritable, not particularly wanting to do good works. Perhaps Jesus understands. Perhaps he was feeling that way in his interaction with the Syrophoenician woman.

Jesus spoke against the Pharisees practice of religion, claiming they were hypocrites. Some read this passage and say Jesus didn't like religion. On the contrary, Jesus wanted us to practice our religion in ways that change our hearts to love God, love our neighbors, and help heal the suffering in the world.

We can't control people, nor can we control the world around us. Our faith in God tells us we don't have to. Things may not go our way. We plant seeds, and they grow or they don't grow. We give up control, root ourselves in and offer to other the rich soil of God and God's word.

Dwelling in Jesus and his words dwelling in us changes us. God is not a supernatural physician or holy vending machine to call upon in our hour of need. Rather, God is love, dwelling in us and inviting us to dwell in him.