For today's first reading, we begin a journey through the Book of Exodus. Today we read about an instance of population control. Because the Hebrew population was growing rapidly, Pharaoh ordered all the male Hebrew children be thrown into the river.
In the Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus finishes His instructions as He sends out the Twelve. He says, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me."
Notice Jesus didn't say you're not allowed to love your parents or your children. Indeed, we must love them. But we cannot love them more than we love Jesus. We must love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. Of course, when we put Jesus over all, our love for others will grow even greater.
Father, help us to love Jesus over all, that our love for others will be more perfect. Amen.
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