Give it all up

If you want to buy a scooter, you have to save up your allowance and promise to wear a helmet when you ride it.

Getting anything you want often means giving up something else. In this week's Gospel (Luke 9:51-62), the people who want to follow Jesus learn that lesson the hard way!

Jesus was traveling when someone came to Him and said, "I'll follow you wherever you go." Jesus said, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but I have no home." Another person said, "I'll follow you, but first let me go to my father's funeral." Jesus answered: "Leave the dead, and follow me now." A third person said, "Jesus, I'll follow you, but first let me say goodbye to my family." Jesus answered, "No one who looks back belongs in God's kingdom."

Even grownups don't like giving one thing up for another. In the Gospel, everyone said they wanted to follow Jesus -- until they found out what they'd have to give up. Jesus said their houses and families couldn't be more important than God. God has to come first, even if that means giving up other things.

You find out just how important something is to you when you have to give up other things for it. You might want a scooter, but not enough to stop spending your allowance on other things!

Some people Jesus met felt that way. They liked what Jesus had to say -- but not enough to really follow Him. They didn't know that being close to God was more important than a house or even seeing their families all the time -- and lots more important than a scooter!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me make you the most important person I know! Amen.