Dedication

In today’s Gospel Jesus is talking about the full dedication required to be a disciple. Here it might seem to sound very harsh of Jesus to be asking people to leave their friends and family, “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.” (Lk 14:26). In order to follow God, we need to do so with our whole heart. We cannot serve two masters, we cannot walk down two paths at the same time. Jesus is asking of us to make a committed decision if we want to be his disciple, and in doing so we are making hard choices. He shows us that it is through him that we are saved, that he is the one that died and rose from the grave, and when we give him our whole heart and we receive his love then we can better love our parents, our siblings, and our neighbors. It is through God that we learn of love, because God is love. Today we can be distracted by multiple things at once, but what is important to know is if God is the number one in our lives and in our hearts. If he is not, then maybe there is something that we need to give up or change so that he can be put in the proper place in our heart.

Reflection: Am I dedicated to my relationship with God?

Lord God, thank you for today and everyday. Thank you for you love and mercy. Lord, allow my heart to be opened to you, to let me prioritize your will and love in my life. Send forth your Spirit Lord, that I might work on striving for holiness by always keeping you in the front of my heart. I pray, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

Resource: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/110718.cfm