By Fr. Richard Heilman, Roman Catholic Man - In today’s Gospel, Jesus “gets our attention” by proclaiming: “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”… The point is that Jesus cannot be accused of watering down the message, of “casting a wide net” of “softened language” for fear of “triggering” anybody that might leave. No, it is clear Jesus is recruiting only “cross carrying,” strong and courageous souls to join ranks with Him.