In today’s Daily Devotional for September 7, we will reflect on our ultimate goal and our relationships with loved ones on the journey there.
Daily Devotional for September 7
Today’s Gospel reading from Luke presents us with some of the most radical and difficult words of Jesus to accept:
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-27)
At first glance, these words sound ruthless and even self-centered. Is Jesus teaching us to hate? Does he want us to renounce the love for our families? Absolutely not. These words are not about hate; they are about priorities.
The Kingdom of God as the Ultimate Goal
Jesus uses hyperbole to emphasize an essential truth: the Kingdom of God must be our ultimate goal, not an intermediate one.
In this world, we build our lives on earthly foundations: family, career, well-being, status. All of these things are important, but they are intermediate goals, not the final one. Jesus says that if our love and loyalty to family, wealth, or even our own lives obstruct God, we cannot be his disciples.
Family is sacred, but it is not a deity. Jesus loves our families, but he wants our love for him to be greater. If we love our children more than God, our love for them can become idolatry that separates us from God.
Our Loved Ones as Fellow Travelers
It is crucial to understand that our loved ones are not the final destination or station in our lives where we stop. Our loved ones, family, and children must be our fellow travelers, walking side by side with us toward the Kingdom of God. A harmonious family is not one where members stop and elevate each other to the level of idols, but one where everyone journeys together.
A family that prays together, that rejoices in God’s grace together, and that supports each other on their spiritual journey is the one that best reflects Jesus’s teaching. It is precisely for this reason that we cannot control our children’s decisions, but we can pray for them so that they, too, choose the right path.
An Invitation to Follow
This passage is an invitation to seriously and consciously evaluate the priorities in our lives. Jesus calls us to renounce everything that binds us to this world and prevents us from following him with all our hearts. It is not an easy path. It requires us to carry our cross and to be ready to give up everything.
Devotional for every day: Daily Devotional
Prayer For Today
Dear Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, who loves and calls us to follow him. Thank you for his words, which, though sometimes difficult, open our eyes to the true values of life.
Forgive us, Lord, for often treating your Kingdom as a temporary stop rather than our final destination. Forgive us for being too attached to worldly things—family, well-being, and status—and for allowing them to obstruct our relationship with you.
Help us understand that our loved ones are not our possessions but our fellow travelers on the journey toward your Kingdom. Grant us the wisdom and strength to walk side by side with them, supporting one another and rejoicing together in your presence.
Teach us, Lord, to let go of everything that binds us to this world so we may carry our cross and follow you with all our hearts. Help us to love you above all else and become your true disciples.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
