Nothing left over

If your parents get annoyed with you, they'd be right in line with Jesus. He didn't want people to eat food they weren't hungry for, but He liked people to finish what they started! In this week's Gospel (Luke 14:25-33), He talks about that.

"If anyone comes to me without hating their father and mother, husband or wife, brothers and sisters, they can't be my disciple," Jesus told a crowd. "If you're going to build a tower, you have to check first to see if you have the money to finish it, or people will laugh at you. In the same way, you have to give up everything if you're going to follow me."

In a way, that's how Jesus felt. In the Gospel story, He talks about building a tower, but He's really talking about having faith in God.

If people wanted "build a tower" of faith by getting close to God, Jesus said, they'd better be sure they could finish the job. People who followed Him had to remember their families and friends might not like it.

That's a good way to look at eating, too: Start small, with a little bit, and take more when you can. That way, everyone will be happy -- you, your parents and God!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me to eat what I can and get as close to you as I can! Amen.