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.”
Initially when reading this, it felt so harsh. I imagine Jesus’s tone to be stern and even judgmental. These words could sting a new parent or an adult daughter or son who has recently lost a beloved parent. Invited by the Holy Spirt, I read it again. Then I hear it and feel it softer, kinder. Experiencing Christ’s words in a more sympathetic tone deepens my understanding of what he is asking of us and reminds me of two of my core beliefs about my relationship with God.
We are all children of God first
In a spiritual direction session, I was telling my director something about my son. It’s important to note that my son is an only child and my role as a parent is often a topic of conversation in spiritual direction. My director reminded me that my son is God’s child, not mine. I don’t remember what I was talking about, but the message that my son is not my child, but God’s was both freeing and terrifying. My son will have his own relationship with God. His journey with God is as special and unique as my own. Hopefully, he will discover how to live a life that is God centered. He is God’s child, as I am God’s child, both loved equally. God is the parent we love first.
My relationship with God is lived through others
As is the case with most of humanity, I live among people. If I focus all of my attention and love on one person or group of people, then I am forgetting that God is the love at the center. Jesus is inviting me to know and accept God’s unconditional love so nothing else is more important. That love can be witnessed in the relationships I have with others. If God’s love is the spring from which all my love flows than all of my thoughts, words, and actions can come from that love. Christ’s words are an invitation for me to put God first and to accept the patience, compassion and love while sharing it with others.
Amy Turbes
Amy Turbes is a spiritual director and has worked at Creighton University for almost 20 years in University Relations.
As a true extrovert, Amy loves connecting people dots. She believes in the six degrees of separation rule and will make sure to figure out how you are connected or how she can connect you to someone. This part of her personality is genetic and has led to fun conversations with strangers.
