Discipleship 101

 

Discipleship 101

The Gospel for today is the choosing of the Twelve Apostles. If you read through the narrative, it seems there is nothing much to learn but an enumeration ;of names with a little bit of whose son is who. But in the second verse, there is a seeming insignificant item that we cannot afford to disregard. In verse 14, it says, “He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach” (emphasis mine).

To be with Him and to send them out—these are two important moments in the business of discipleship. To be with Him refers to union. To send them out refers to mission. These two moments are inseparable and they complete one another. Union without mission is like preparing for a marathon without running. Mission without union is like running a marathon without training.

Union precedes mission. The wise principle says, “You cannot give what you do not have.” So if the Twelve were expected to Christify the world, they needed to be with Christ—to spend time, to “waste” time with Christ. The mission of the Twelve is to be Christ to the world. “Christ” means the Anointed One. The Twelve cannot anoint the world from within. They need to get out, to be sent, to be out on mission.

What does this have to do with you and me? If you consider yourself a Christian, this is your calling. A Christian is not a real Christian if union with Christ is not a compelling desire of his heart. Take away C-H-R-I-S-T from the word “Christian” and you are left with I-A-N, which spells out as “I Am Nothing.”

Encounter Jesus in regular personal prayer. Meet Christ in the Scriptures. Be cleansed by His forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. Above all, be one with Him in His real presence in the Eucharist.

And then share Christ to the world. Be Christ to others in works of charity. Serve Him in the poor and needy. Share the beauty of Christ in the witness of your life. Invite others with the fragrance of joy in the Spirit. Fr. Joel Jason

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reflection question

Don’t let your Christianity be just nominal. Make it phenomenal.

Here I am, Lord, send me. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________