So much for “family values”!  The Roman contemporaries of the Matthean community thought so, too; for Christians were known for clinging to their belief in this man from Nazareth even when it meant exclusion and rejection from their families, imprisonment or a horrible death.  In fact, one of the arguments the Roman pagans used against Christianity was that it was “anti-family”; and it seems that these verses would prove that to be true.

This puzzling passage used to trouble me, for it certainly painted a picture of the Christian life that I would prefer not to see.  But I came to a new understanding of it a few days ago as I walked around the zoo with my son.

“Mom, who do you love best -- God or me?” queried eight year-old Skyler.  “Oh, wow,” I thought.  Sibling rivalry is a big issue in our home these days, and now it had morphed into this!  But I took a deep breath and listened for a moment to the crashing ocean waves in a display nearby.  And then, I had an answer -- the only truthful answer that I could give my son.

“Well, Skyler, I love you both.”  (A look of slight disappointment -- Mom is going to cop out of this one.)  “But the truth of the matter is, that loving God helps me to love you more.”  (Skeptical here -- what is she saying?)  “The love that I feel for God fills my heart, and gives me more love for you.”  (A little giggle.)

“You know how I ‘lost it’ yesterday when we were fishing and you kicked over your drink?”  (Yes -- it’s still very clear for this sensitive guy.)  “When I ‘lose it,’ it’s because I forget about God.  When I remember God’s love for me, and when I remember to love God back, I can have a lot more patience, and I can see what’s really important, and I can love you a lot more.”  (A bigger giggle.  A smile.  A hug.)

“I love you, Mom.”  “I love you, too.”

Jesus’ words couldn’t have been too harsh.  For at the end of this passage, we can see that a child has wandered up to the Teacher, perhaps an eight year-old boy with a question to be answered.  And Jesus reminds us that loving and caring for God and for one another are really all that matters:  “If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then in truth I tell you, he will most certainly not go without his reward.”