At first glance, today’s reading seems a little harsh.  Jesus seems to be saying that we should set aside love of parents and siblings or else we are not worthy of his love for us.  The key word is more.  Jesus exhorts us to place our love for him above all others, but not instead of others.  In fact, when we read the Gospel carefully we discover that we come to love the Lord through others, and we love others because of the Lord.  It is an integrated love affair that we have with the Lord; it is a wonderful grace that we cannot live without!