Jesus speaks some tough words in this week’s Gospel. He tells us that we cannot be His disciples unless we hate our family. He also says that discipleship requires carrying our cross and giving up our possessions. At first, these conditions sound harsh, but when we look more closely, they make sense.
Possessions can be good, but they demand our time, energy, and attention. Even if I don’t obsess over them, the more things I own, the more effort it takes to maintain them. A house requires care to keep it in good shape, and a bigger house requires even more. Caring for our possessions isn’t wrong, but it does take time away from God and from doing other good works.
So what do we really want? Do we want to spend our time making life more comfortable, or do we want to use our time to strengthen our relationship with God and love our neighbor? Most of us would say we want to make our own life more comfortable. However, this is where we must distinguish between wants and needs. I may want to focus my energy on myself, but I need to grow closer to God and listen to Him if I truly want to be happy. Sin, at its core, is choosing what we want over what God wants for us.
Think about walking through a gift shop with kids begging for cheap, overpriced trinkets. I’ve been there. As parents, we try to guide our children toward things that matter and away from what we know won’t bring lasting joy. God does the same with us. He sees us clinging to things that cannot satisfy and tries to guide us toward Heaven, where we will be fully satisfied. The commandments and the Beatitudes serve as our map.
One of the greatest joys in my life is spending time with my family. Family is a blessing, but even family can hold us back if we let it take priority over God. Many of us live with a “family first” mentality, but the truth is, it should always be “God first.” For example, our Sunday obligation to attend Mass should come before a family trip or event. Family members may also hold beliefs that differ from the Church, and if we give their opinions more weight than God’s truth, we risk being led astray.
God does not want to burden us. He wants us to be happy. Like children trusting their parents, we should trust His judgment and lean on His wisdom. Our Father knows what will bring us lasting joy, and He gives us guidance through Scripture and Tradition. Sometimes, we have to make short-term sacrifices to achieve long-term success, but sacrifice is what Christian life is all about.
