Prefer Less?
Tough readings today. We are told to hate father/mother, wife/children, and even ourselves. I have read many great commentaries explaining this gospel. They all agree that the word hate as we know it today is not what was meant in the first century. Rather, it was a way to exaggerate that your focus must be on Jesus. So, they imply hate in this context means to prefer less. It still makes us feel uncertain. Probably because we can never really say what was intended in the person’s first century mind or the way they were thinking. Whether then or today, the words are sharp. How do we reconcile the message of this gospel?
As with all gospel passages, we need to keep these few sentences in context with the rest of the gospel. Jesus has healed people, on the Sabbath. The parable of the great feast was shared, all people are invited. And now we have a message regarding discipleship. Even though invited, not all will become disciples. People will have their own reasons for leaving, but if you choose you can become a disciple, but it is only through a total commitment. A total commitment to Jesus. An understanding that Jesus comes first.
But we love our family! Yes, we do, but having Jesus first in our lives does not mean we walk away from our family. No. You can have Jesus first and still include your family. How do you do that?
When you pray for a member of your family, ask that it be through Christ. Our young people preparing for communion, pray that they know they are in the family of the Church, the bride of Christ. Or just as we do at mass, we conclude prayers by saying, we ask all of this through Christ our Lord. There are many prayers and ways of praying, but our prayers should always be through Him, and with Him, and in Him.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen