Called to Discipleship

"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect."

(Romans 12:2)

"Finally, brothers [and sisters], whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

(Philippians 4:8)

Many books and articles have been written about what it means to be a disciple— a learner or apprentice — of Jesus. Discipleship is an ongoing and continuing process of growing into a more loving and deeper relationship with God, and the people who God loves, as taught, exemplified, and lived by Jesus Christ— the human face of God for us. Through God's grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we strive to learn and follow what Jesus taught and how he lived his life centered on God and God's kingdom on "earth as it is in heaven", and his commitment, even at the cost of his own life, to do God's will and to glorify God (see John 16:13-15; Matthew 6:9-10; Luke 22:42). Every thing else that we or culture value is subordinate to that.

The early Church understood discipleship as following the Way of Jesus (John 14:6; Acts 9:2; 22:4; 24:14, 22). Perhaps one of the best ways to appreciate what this means is through listening to some of Jesus' own teachings and examples as presented in the Gospels:

"'Which is the first of all the commandments?' Jesus replied, 'The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these'" (Mark 12:28-31). Jesus clarified the second commandment when he taught, "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another" (John 13:34).

Jesus said, ...'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve'" (Matthew 4:10).

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).

"Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mathew 4:17; cf. Mark 1:15).

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you" (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:34; known as the "Golden Rule").

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

"Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me. . . .Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me" (Matthew 25:40,45).

[For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35).

"But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you" (Luke 6:27-28).

"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,* take up his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27).

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command?" (Luke 6:46)

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:12).

"No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you" (John 15:13-14).

"For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45; cf. Matthew 20:28).

"You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do" (John 13:13-15).

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.* And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20)

We invite you to take some time to pray and reflect on the nature and extent of your commitment to being a disciple of Jesus and living your life centered on God and doing God's will, as guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.