“We know God calls us into human relationships that bring us love and joy and lifelong commitment; and we know that so often children are the fruit of those relationships – whether by birth or adoption. We see in our families a reflection of God’s parental care for us, and they are so often where we first learn about love and community and faith in God. So to have Jesus say something kind of critical and prickly about families (as he does in today’s Gospel*) may not sound comfortable to us, and may even seem against what we think Christian faith stands for.
I think the key to understanding what is being said here is to be aware of two things. First of all, God made us for relationship – with God’s self and with others; God really doesn’t want us to be alone, and so spouses, families and friendships are all good and important. And second, while our families can be the focal point of God’s love and blessing, they can also get in the way if they become an idol, rather than an icon of God’s presence.
So what’s the balance between serving God and taking care of your family? When are those one and the same and when do they come into conflict? How is our Christian vocation as a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a child to be lived out? I don’t have any cut and dried answer to those questions….
May God the Father, who by Baptism adopts us as his children, grant us grace.
May God the Son, who sanctified a home at Nazareth, fill us with love.
May God the Holy Spirit, who has made the Church one family, keep us in peace. Amen. ~ Book of Common Prayer”
~ from my sermon June 22, 2014
*[Jesus said:] 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; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37-38
Here’s a You Tube link to a modern Gospel song “Take Up Your Cross”, by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq0Z0wPQ4e8
Blessings,
Vicki+
I think the key to understanding what is being said here is to be aware of two things. First of all, God made us for relationship – with God’s self and with others; God really doesn’t want us to be alone, and so spouses, families and friendships are all good and important. And second, while our families can be the focal point of God’s love and blessing, they can also get in the way if they become an idol, rather than an icon of God’s presence.
So what’s the balance between serving God and taking care of your family? When are those one and the same and when do they come into conflict? How is our Christian vocation as a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a child to be lived out? I don’t have any cut and dried answer to those questions….
May God the Father, who by Baptism adopts us as his children, grant us grace.
May God the Son, who sanctified a home at Nazareth, fill us with love.
May God the Holy Spirit, who has made the Church one family, keep us in peace. Amen. ~ Book of Common Prayer”
~ from my sermon June 22, 2014
*[Jesus said:] 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; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Matthew 10:37-38
Here’s a You Tube link to a modern Gospel song “Take Up Your Cross”, by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq0Z0wPQ4e8
Blessings,
Vicki+
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