Our Sacred Stories ~ A Disciple of Jesus: So What?

Most of us have been Catholic from birth.  Our families took us to be baptized as infants.  We may have had religious formation (catechism) as children.  Probably at some point in our youth, willingly or reluctantly or with little thought, we took the step of Confirmation.  As adults we regard ourselves as Catholics with various levels of commitment and certainly often with many questions.  But have we ever given much thought to seeing ourselves as disciples and if so,… so what?  For, that baptism we received so many years ago was in fact a call into discipleship.

The gospels reveal much about the relationship Jesus had with his disciples and this is the model for our own discipleship.  What do we see there?  First of all we see that Jesus called his disciples where they were, in the midst of their world.  Simon and Andrew were fishing on the Sea of Galilee when they were called and they left to follow Jesus (Matt.4:18-20).  Jesus called James and John when they were doing maintenance on their nets and boats (Matt.4:21-22).  Luke tells us of the call of the disciple Levi who was at work as a tax collector for the Roman authorities when he was called by Jesus. (Luke 5:27-28; Matt.9:9).  Discipleship begins and is lived in the world, where we live and work and play.  The call comes in the midst of all our relationships and even, through these relationships.

The Gospel accounts are brief and often look as if there is a sudden and total conversion experience.  However, the process is probably more gradual than it appears.  Initially most come to it after a period of hearing about Jesus.  They may have met him as part of the crowds that gathered around him. They listened and watched him for a time.  Then at some point their interest grew and they had a need for more, a call to step up and follow as disciples.

In Luke’s Gospel (Luke 13:22-30), Jesus is asked: “Lord, will only a few be saved?”  In response, Jesus does not give a direct reply.  Rather as he often does, he puts out a challenge: “Strive to enter through the narrow door.”  He does not advise following the simple, conventional path of following all the rules.  Rather he calls for a conversion of heart.  Discipleship is all about a life decision – to attach ourselves to Jesus in a way that we gradually become like Jesus.

To follow as a disciple is to enter into a close and personal relationship with Jesus.  The disciples in the Gospel would discover that the call is to become more like this Jesus they are following.  Being a disciple is certainly not about a body of beliefs and doctrines.  It is a very personal relationship that grows between the disciples and their master, Jesus.  In that relationship we learn who Jesus is and we strive to become more like Jesus ourselves.

Eventually disciples come to see that they are being given the mission that Jesus has – to plant and nurture the reign of God, the face of God in our world.  This mission means that in all we are and all we do, we reveal the love and compassion, the peace and justice, the healing and forgiveness of God to all our world.  This is the full meaning of evangelization, sharing the Gospel, the good news.

The great question of faith for us is: Am I becoming more like Jesus in my life and how can I share this with others?  Jesus lived his life as the face of God’s love and mercy for all peoples, everywhere. Is this the face others see in you and me.  Do we make a difference in our personal world?