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snowpea
Guest
Why does Jesus ask people to leave their family and follow him?
Catholics embrace the family unit so I don’t understand that
ty
Catholics embrace the family unit so I don’t understand that
ty
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CHRISTINE77
Guest
God comes first, then family. If your family is hindering you from worshipping God, then you need to turn away from them and follow the Lord. If they are with you, no need to leave them.
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snowpea
Guest
now that makes perfect sense! Thank you
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TimothyH
Guest
I’m not sure. God doesn’t qualify the fourth commandment. We are to honor our mother and father no matter what. Abandonment is not a virtue.
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Aggies08
Guest
My family is not practicing Catholic.
This means sometimes I must choose between family and church. I must be the dissenting voice if they are discussing gay marriage, or birth control. I must insist that my family attend Mass if on vacation with them, etc. Depending on one’s family, these things can become a major “issue.”
You still show respect to your family, but when it comes to things of God, you must make sure you are taking care of your soul, and that of your family (spouse, kids), rather than ignoring your religious obligations simply for family harmony.
If my spouse or kids were to fall away from the faith, I would still be responsible to care for my soul, then do everything I could to help them as well.
That’s my understanding.
This means sometimes I must choose between family and church. I must be the dissenting voice if they are discussing gay marriage, or birth control. I must insist that my family attend Mass if on vacation with them, etc. Depending on one’s family, these things can become a major “issue.”
You still show respect to your family, but when it comes to things of God, you must make sure you are taking care of your soul, and that of your family (spouse, kids), rather than ignoring your religious obligations simply for family harmony.
If my spouse or kids were to fall away from the faith, I would still be responsible to care for my soul, then do everything I could to help them as well.
That’s my understanding.
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bmonk
Guest
I agree that, if your family is getting between you and God, keeping you from living your faith, than which should go? Family–without God, you have no hope, but with God you have hope of saving your family too.
A similar thought is that, in sacrificing your family for God, you are not really necessarily giving up your family forever: “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt 19:29) In giving up your family when needed, you still have the hope that they will be restored, or a new family will be formed. We give them up for the sake of the One who can give them back.
A similar thought is that, in sacrificing your family for God, you are not really necessarily giving up your family forever: “And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more, and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt 19:29) In giving up your family when needed, you still have the hope that they will be restored, or a new family will be formed. We give them up for the sake of the One who can give them back.
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