Jesus distanced himself from his society’s so-called family values. He would not make an idol of the family, as the rest of his society had. Time and time again in the gospels we hear him make statements like these incendiary remarks: ‘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 the cross and follow me is not worthy of me.’ He made his point strongly in order to ensure it was heard - that whilst there will always be a place for the family in the future of God’s people, we must not make an idol of it, and we must be prepared to reshape our relationship with it, in the light of the values of God’s kingdom. 

A talk for the Third Sunday after Trinity, 25 June 2023.

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