Today’s gospel story may sound extreme or harsh upon first reading but when I can step back and ask “what is the invitation?” I can hear God/Jesus asking me if I am “all in”. Is God first in my life? By first, I think Jesus means “is he my focus?” Do I look to him to find meaning in my life? Jesus gives us some extreme examples; Jesus should be before son, daughter, mother, father. I think this is to emphasis the point that nothing should come before Christ in our life. So I invite you to take some time today to examine your life. What gets in the way of Christ for you? To answering his call that you be “all in?”
—Amy Hoover, spiritual director and a frequent spiritual writer, is Director of the Creighton University Retreat Center, located in Griswold, IA.