Dear Parishioners,
Who do I love more? Jesus …or my mom or dad, sister or brother, son or daughter? Is Jesus really pitting the love we have for our family against our love for Him in today’s gospel?...
Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)
Following Jesus is costly. Sometimes Jesus exaggerates to make a point. But here He’s clearly teaching that if you follow Him, prepare to be rejected—even by those you love—just as He was. This is why Jesus said immediately prior: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matt 10:34).
True love. Jesus’ point is this, as an example: if someone you or I love advises or encourages us to do or say or believe something contrary to God’s law, we must choose to follow God instead. Jesus is warning us about the grave danger of “giving in” to a loved one who is attempting to drive a wedge between you and Jesus by wanting you to go along with something that is immoral. Such misguided “love” is detrimental to our relationship with God, our loved one, and our own salvation. Rather, we are to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) and be kind and pray for them. By doing so, we are truly loving both God and our loved one, even though we may be unjustly accused of being bigoted or, ironically, “unloving.”
Jesus is with us… Jesus knows that we will experience such unjust reactions when following Him, ie, we will receive a cross like He did, which is why He immediately adds: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” (Matt 10:38). Jesus also says: “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:11-12).
…always. In summary, it’s not “either I love my family, or I love Jesus.” In the long run, the most loving thing we can do is “(teach) them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matt 28:20).
Peace in Christ,
Father Jim
