Holy Prophet Zephaniah (Sophonias) (7th century BC)
Nativity Fast.
Read
1 Timothy 1:8-14; Luke 14:25-35
“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
These words of our Lord are jarring in both their directness and content. It may appear to us that our relationships are incompatible with discipleship but that is not the case. Rather, our relationships, such as the familial relationships spoken of, can be a roadblock to full discipleship.
It is up to us whether these relationships become a roadblock or not. Many of the saints had to forsake their families because their faith in Jesus Christ led to persecution from their family members. Many denounced the pagan or heretical beliefs that their family members held and suffered for it.
Our relationships, though important, cannot come before our faith in God. We should strive to bring those with whom we have a relationship into the fullest knowledge of our Lord but we cannot forsake our relationship with and faith in God for the sake of our other relationships.