In today's Gospel we read: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." God is not asking us not to love our parents or our children. That would be contrary to the Fourth Commandment: "Honor your father and mother." This is a natural, God-made bond. But it must yield to a greater bond, that between God and us. God made us in his own image and likeness, while our parents brought us into life. Our parents gave us the opportunity to live an earthly life. God gives us the grace to live eternally with him. God wants us to love him first, not because he needs our love. We need him. "Our hearts are restless unless they rest in you, my God." (St. Augustin) 

It is because of our need to love God first that we are called to love our parents or our children or others, secondly. It does not take away from the love of others, but only gives our love its true priority and worth. It is because I love God first that I choose to love others as well. What Jesus is reminding us of is the great Schema in the Old Testament. "Hear, O Israel. You shall love God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Is our priority in right order?