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Friends, as we get ready for the fall season, I'd like to offer an invitation and a reflection.

1. You're invited to join our "Fall Book Study," which this year will be on the beautiful and important book Saved From Sacrifice: A Theology of the Cross by S. Mark Heim.  The book was written 20 years ago, but has aged well.  Don't be scared off by the fact that this is a "theology" book; it is extremely well-written.  It was one of the best books I've ever read explaining why the death of Jesus matters in the modern world; and though I've read hundreds of theology and biblical studies books, it is among the 10 most influential theology books in shaping my understanding of the Christian faith.

2. This past week I invited you to send me feedback on my sermon on Luke 14:25-33 where Jesus uses the strong language of "hating father and mother..." in contrast to loyalty to him.  I tried to explain why this language made sense in historical context and why an exclusive "focus on the family" leads to the breakdown of a society.  It was an argument supported by sociology and by examples in history.  Though I didn't share this in the sermon, when, in the later stages of the Roman empire, wealth became overly concentrated in the hands of several families, the larger society was weakened severely leading to its eventual collapse.  One can clearly see similar trends unfolding in the world today e.g. the rule of the Oligarchs is ruining Russia and it looks perilous for the United Stated at the moment.

But some of you raised good counter points a) some versions of Christianity have taken Jesus' message in this passage and used it to justify caring very little for the family vs. the Church.  This is a misuse of Jesus' words.  In another context Jesus said "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God" (Matt 15:3-6).  Clearly Churches who say families don't matter have missed the boat!

Another person said to me that from "an more eastern perspective" the passage we looked at isn't troubling but is about the difference between "attachment" and "love."  

Thoughtful churches always attempt to locate and understand Jesus' words in historical context and in the light of the Scripture and Tradition as a whole.  Thank you for your feedback, keep it coming!