Click here to read the daily readings from the USCCB website.
There’s a lot of ways one could define “discipleship.” In its textbook definition, a disciple is “a person who is a pupil or an adherent of the doctrines of another; follower” (dictionary.com). Makes sense. I prefer this pithier image though: a disciple is one who is covered in the dust of his or her master. The idea here is that you are following Jesus so closely that the dust He kicks up with His feet cakes you. Every word He speaks is like water and you’re a dry sponge.
We aren’t among the number of men and women that walked the roads of Israel with Jesus though. We haven’t had the experience of sitting at His feet as the Apostles did. We aren’t coated in the literal dust from His feet… obviously. But what implications does this imagery have?
What are the ways that we can follow Jesus closely in the 21st century? What does a modern disciple look like?
(https://www.saintbrigidparish.org/the-wheel)
I love this image from The Evangelical Catholic. It doesn’t paint the entire picture of discipleship, but it demonstrates the habits and practices that we are called to create in order to live and sustain a fruitful relationship with Jesus Christ. In the center of the wheel (as well as our hearts and minds) is Jesus Christ. What keeps Him rooted in the center is regular reception of the Sacraments (especially Eucharist and Reconciliation). I know the text is small, but the vertical axis says “prayer” and “scripture.” These are the things that directly connect us to God. As I’ve said time and time again, a personal relationship with Jesus is only possible through a regular prayer life. Just like any relationship, our relationship with Jesus takes effort. We need to get to know Him. We need to converse with Him.
The horizontal axis considers the way that we love God through our neighbor through “community” and “evangelization.” Community and evangelization are critical aspects of the life of discipleship. We need encouragement and accountability from our brothers and sisters in Christ in order to run the race so as to win. Evangelization is the epitome of love. The end for which we were created is union with the most high God who loves us and who created us. This is everything. To truly love someone is to share the Gospel even when it’s awkward or inconvient. Not doing so out of so-called tolerance or “respect” for their beliefs does them a disservice. They have every right to say no to the invitation of Christ, but they have every need to hear the Gospel to begin with.
The thing that holds the life of discipleship together is found on the outer rim of the wheel. “Obedience.” Woof. Yes, obedience. Obedience submits us to the will of God. Obedience is humility in action. It demonstrates that God is God and we are not. God has a plan for our lives, a plan that we might not always want at first, a plan that certainly does not include sin. God gave us the gift of a Church to help us discern that plan. To be obedient to the Church is to be obedient to God.
In first reading today from 2 Timothy, I see these marks of discipleship in the lives of Paul and Timothy. They are in community with each other for the sake of the evangelization of the world. They are obedient to the call of Christ even in the face of persecution. They rely on Scripture for “teaching, refutation, correction, and training in righteousness.” They “live religiously in Christ Jesus” through their relationship with Him in prayer.
Where to these things fit into your life? Using the wheel as a model, can you characterize your life as the life of a disciple? If so, awesome! Keep going deeper. If not, start! I’d love to walk with you on your journey. It’s hard to know where to begin. It’s hard to learn how to pray. That’s what the Nativity community is here for. We want to walk with you together toward Christ. Regardless of where you’re at on your spiritual journey, I want to hear from you. Email me at dbq057s1@dbqarch.org or message me on Facebook through the Church of the Nativity Facebook page.
God bless you my friends!
-Amanda Benner, Director of Evangelization