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June 30
Unknown
The first statement in today's Gospel presents quite a challenge. Jesus says that those who love their families more than they love Him are unworthy of Him. In many matters of our daily lives, top priority is usually given to the needs of our families. The importance we give to our families is part of our culture, whether you are a Filipino, Chinese, or Tsinoy. To hear that our love for Jesus should be second to none can be troubling. Indeed, there are instances when practicing our faith seems to be at odds with our responsibilities to our families.
God certainly wants us to value our families. This is precisely what the commandment "Honor thy father and mother" is all about. We must recognize, however, that everything good that we have, even our families, is a gift from God. The tragedy of many men and women is that they become so focused on the gifts that they neglect to seek out the Giver Himself. Putting Christ first in our lives is the best way to show our gratitude to God for the many gifts He has bestowed on us.
When we make God the top priority of our lives, we gain a deeper understanding of His plans for us and the purpose for the gifts He has given us. By drawing closer to Christ through prayer, Scripture, and the Sacraments, we become empowered to live as His disciples. If we immerse ourselves in God's truth and love, we become effective dispensers of God's grace in the world. This is why Christ says that those who receive God's holy ones will surely be rewarded.
In fact, we who have been called to be Christ's disciples have a wonderful opportunity to be a blessing to our families. The truth and the love that we come to know and experience as Christ's disciples will enable us to share the same truth and love with our families. What else could we give to our families that is more valuable? Ultimately, responding to Jesus' challenge to love Him above everything and everyone else is the best that one could do for one's family. If we make Jesus Number One, we would be able to love and serve our families much better than if we had not made Jesus the center of our lives.
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