Jesus the Extremist (David Gore - Luke 14:25-33)

To whom we give our allegiance is very important. It shapes the way we behave. It reveals what we truly value. And our real allegiances are often only made known when push comes to shove! This week's gospel reading has Jesus challenging our most basic (even primal) allegiances - family! Jesus appears to be saying that there is an allegiance that is more fundamental than that of family. There are not many places where the gospel cuts this close to the bone of our normal every day assumptions and attachments.