Today's Gospel is the teaching of Jesus about the serious demands of discipleship.

Anyone who wants to follow him must be ready to make him the priority in life, over and above one’s family. This is what the expression “hate father and mother” means.

Second, he must be ready and willing to take up his cross.

Third, he must be ready to renounce all his possessions.

These conditions should make a would-be follower think seriously about his decision to follow Jesus. He cannot say “yes” now, and when confronted with the serious challenges, decide to turn away. This is the meaning of the parables of the man planning to build a tower and the king who is about to wage war against another king. The decision to follow Jesus needs serious thinking and commitment.