I am presently planning to do a fall series of presentations of discipleship. The question at hand is what does it mean to be a Christian disciple. With that in mind, I thought I would share some initial thoughts with you and invite your input for what should be included in the series. (Please note that I do not have any dates or times planned yet. I anticipate doing both an in-person version and something via the internet. I like the Zoom option but the cost (at last check) is $80/month so I may try to look at other options to save the parish money.)

In exploring Christian discipleship, I ask what do you think it means to be a disciple?

In simple terms, it is to be a student of a master. Going a little further, as the disciple advances in their knowledge, they will be expected to share the “way” of the master with others. In terms of human knowledge and human skill, a student may come to know more about a field than their teacher. For instance, I would suspect Albert Einstein came to know more about physics than any teachers he had. However, in Christian discipleship, none of us will ever become greater than Jesus (see Matthew 10:24-25a). That would be impossible. However, Jesus does want to become like him.

Second question: What makes one a disciple?

If one is looking for a ritual that makes one a Christian disciple, then the answer is the Sacrament of Baptism. In Baptism we are marked with an indelible mark as children of God. That can never be taken away from us. Baptism is part of God’s plan of salvation for us. However, if a Christian disciple is a student of Jesus as the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6), doesn’t one begin his discipleship before Baptism? Here I think of an unbaptized person who enters the RCIA process and expects to receive Baptism (as well as Confirmation and Eucharist). Do they not become a student, hence a disciple, of the faith when they commit to following Jesus?

To be a disciple of Jesus is not something we just have on a bucket list that we put off till tomorrow. To be a disciple begins with an immediate response (see Matthew 8:18-22). Nor is Christian discipleship something we should seek because we want an easy life. There are types I am uncertain what to do. There are times that it is hard to do what I believe God wants me to do. I ask God to take it away. Then the Holy Spirit points me to the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

I see Christian discipleship as rooted in what we read in Deuteronomy 6:5, “Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.” After all, when Jesus is asked which is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40), He cites Deuteronomy 6:5. To be a true disciple, we are called to give our whole being to Jesus. We don’t always succeed but we try.

With the above in mind, would you call yourself a Christian discipleship? Why or why not?

Returning to what I cited from Jesus in see Matthew 10:24-25a, no student is greater than his master, do you think you know better than Jesus? If you answer no, then why do you try to do things differently than Jesus says to?

If we want to enter into Heaven when our lives on Earth end, then we need to be true Christian disciples. It is not enough to call Jesus “Lord.” We need to live it. Even if we do great things in the name of Jesus, this doesn’t guarantee that we are true disciples. (see Mathew 7:21-23). One can do great works of mercy (see Matthew 25:31-46) without believing in Jesus. Christian discipleship requires faith. Faith leads us to doing great works. We read in James 2:14-17, “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (You can learn more about doing works of mercy in my video presentation, The Journey to Jesus: Acts of Mercy)

Christian is discipleship is not just about doing the right thing. It is about being who God calls us to be.

What questions do you have about discipleship? You can use the “comment” link below to share your questions for my fall series.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff