The words of Jesus in our Gospel selection this weekend can be easily misinterpreted if they are not understood in the proper context. “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

First to consider is the circumstances surrounding it. Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem where he would be crucified. But the crowd thought that he was going there to oust the Romans and to re-establish the Old Davidic Kingdom of Israel. At this time, Jesus was already popular as a great healer, brave teacher and miracle worker. Hence, a large crowd of people was following him. But Jesus frankly put before them the strenuous conditions for discipleship.

Second to consider is the limitations of language. The Hebrew language does not have a comparative language as we have in English. Examples of a comparative language are “more,” “less,” “better,” or “worse.” Hence, it is not possible to speak of “loving more” or “loving less.” The Hebrew language only has “loving” or “hating.” The Oxford Biblical Commentary tells us that this particular text is a “Semitic exaggeration and may reflect an idiom which means ‘love less than’.” A parallel version in Matthew’s Gospel confirms this. “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 his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.” (Mt. 10, 37-38)

Jesus is not calling us to hate our families or our own lives. Rather, he calls us to a commitment above all other commitments. He calls us to love him more than anyone or anything else. He calls us to put God first, loving with Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Our total love for him does not preclude us from loving others. In fact, our love for him orders and directs our love for others. We can properly love anyone or anything if our love for God comes first.

Having this in mind, we understand Jesus’ parallel statement, “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.” We cannot separate the cross from Jesus. Following him requires detachment from comfort and convenience. We cannot love comfort more than God. Following him requires readiness to face even the difficulties and challenges of life. After all, he doesn’t want disciples who just “go along with the crowd.” He also doesn’t want “half-way” disciples who are willing to do a “little bit” of prayer, a “little bit” of commitment, a “little bit” of dedication, a “little bit” of love. He wants committed Christians who are aware of the costs of following him, and who choose to follow him anyway. Discipleship is costly in terms of money, time, relationships, and priorities. But it is worth it. It truly is worth more than anything else in this world.