I Am Third

 

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A

2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a

Romans 6:3-4, 8-11

Matthew 10:37-42

 

Whenever I hear a Gospel like today's, I find myself thinking, Being a Christian is really hard.

 

I mean, listen to what Jesus says. "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me." In St. Luke's Gospel He goes even further: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother...he cannot be my disciple."

 

Those are hard words. It's tempting to say, "Well...He didn't really mean that. He's just exaggerating." But I don't think we should dismiss them that quickly. Jesus is trying to wake us up. What He's really doing is restating the First and Greatest Commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. And don't miss what that means. Jesus is claiming the place that belongs to God alone. He's saying, "Love Me the way you love God."

 

Because He is God.

 

Now here's where I struggle. How do I square those words with another thing Jesus says: "My yoke is easy, and my burden is light"? Because, honestly, giving Christ first place over everything else doesn't sound easy.

 

Unless...Unless that's actually what sets us free.

 

Think about the way Jesus lived. He had no permanent home. He owned almost nothing. He depended on others for His daily needs. It wasn't because possessions are bad. It was because nothing possessed Him. He was completely free. Free to love His Father with His whole heart. Free to love every person He met without selfishness. Free to pour Himself out completely.

 

That's how we were created to live.

 

God gave us this world as a gift—not something to worship, but something to use well. We were meant to master the things of this world, not be mastered by them. And if we're honest...we know how easily that gets turned upside down.

 

Our work can master us. Money can master us. Comfort can master us. Our reputation can master us. Even the people we love most can become disordered loves if they begin to occupy the place that belongs to God alone.

 

That's what Jesus is getting at. He's not asking us to love our families less. He's asking us to love God first. Because when God is first, everything else finally falls into its proper place.

 

Then Jesus says something else that sounds just as difficult: "Take up your cross."

Sometimes we think that simply means putting up with suffering. I think it's deeper than that. The cross is the daily surrender of anything that competes with God for my heart. Every act of forgiveness. Every sacrifice made out of love. Every temptation resisted. Every attachment surrendered. All of it becomes a participation in Christ's own saving work.

 

That's exactly what St. Paul is talking about today. He says we were baptized into Christ's death. Think about that. We aren't spectators watching Jesus save the world. He actually draws us into His saving work. Just as God lets us share in His work of creation, He invites us to share in His work of redemption.

 

That's an incredible privilege. Maybe that's why it's actually easier to love our neighbor than it is to love God. Even people who don't know God can be generous. They can be compassionate. They can sacrifice for someone they love. But making God the center of everything? Making Him the standard by which I measure every decision? Letting Him have first claim on my heart? That's different.

 

That's discipleship.

 

So maybe that's the question Jesus is asking every one of us today. What owns my heart? Because make no mistake...Something does. Whatever sits on the throne of my heart will shape every decision I make, every relationship I have, and ultimately the person I become.

 

Jesus isn't trying to take anything away from us. He's trying to set us free. Free to love our spouse better. Free to love our children better. Free to enjoy His gifts without becoming enslaved by them. Free to carry our cross without fear. Free to become the men and women we were created to be.

 

Because here's the truth. Every one of us is going to give our life to something.

Every one of us. The only question is whether we'll give it to something that cannot last...or to the One who conquered death. That's why Jesus asks for everything.

 

Not because He wants to take everything from us. Because He wants to give us everything.