WORTHY DISCIPLESHIP
Rev. Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
All the readings today present us with some criteria for worthy discipleship. Who is a disciple? The New Ratio no. 61 says a “disciple is one whom the Lord has called to stay with him, to follow him, and to become a missionary of the Gospel”. Every baptized Christian is called to stay with him, follow him and to witness to him. Therefore, Christians are Disciples of Christ. But Jesus Christ wants to understand that what he desires is worthy discipleship not mere discipleship. Therefore, according to today’s readings to be worthy disciples we must do the following:
1. WE MUST LOVE JESUS MORE THAN, PARENTS AND CHILDREN: Jesus says in the gospel, “He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matt.10:37). Every disciple must endeavour to love Jesus more than parents and children. The bible says “love God above all with all your heart, …..” (Matt. 22:37); To love God with all you got means nothing should compete your love for God. Not even parents, children, self, and inheritance. We must love God above these things. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says in no.2232 that “Family ties are important but not absolute. Just as a child grows to maturity and human and spiritual autonomy, so his unique vocation which comes from God asserts itself more clearly and forcefully. Parents should respect this call and encourage their children to follow it. They must be convinced that the first vocation of the Christian is to follow Jesus.” A worthy disciple therefore must love God above all things. Even Jesus affirms that his belonging to the family of God takes precedence over normal family ties (Matt.12:46-50). We are to avoid excessive attachment what Ignatius of Loyola called “inordinate affection” that is, attachment which restrict our freedom to do God’s work or an unhealthy and obsessive attachment to a person or thing that manifests through uncontrollable “love”. Some parents have this affection for their children. In some cases you see them dragging their Son with their daughter in-law.
2. WE MUST TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM: Jesus says in the gospel “he who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Every disciple must learn to carry his cross, and follow him. Again, in Lk.14: 25–27 Jesus repeated the same thing, he says “…Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow me cannot be my disciple”. Therefore, ability to carry our cross and follow him qualifies us for worthy discipleship. Two things are implied in that very statement of Jesus: The cross and followership. It is not enough to follow him, we must still be able to carry our cross. Many of us follow him but don’t want to carry our cross. We like easy things and easy life. Heaven is good and no good thing comes easily. Let us not run away from the cross. Discipleship without the cross is a wrong ship. No one enters a wrong ship and arrives at the right destination. Again, we must follow him, today we have become too obsessed with leadership and not followership and that is why when our followers eventually become leaders they are confused as to what due process and policy is all about. A good leader was once led. We need to be good followers. If we follow very well then we shall not wallow.
3. WE MUST BE DEAD TO SIN: Paul says in the second reading, Rom.6:11, “you must also consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus”. On this statement of Christ, Pazhayampalli wrote: As one who is dead has nothing to do with earthly things, so one who is dead to sin has nothing to do with sin. To be dead to sin means that we should not respond to the appeals of sin. The dead body does not respond to anything, it does not respond to touches and the cry of dear ones and it does not respond to praises. Therefore, we must be dead to pride, avarice, lust, anger, jealousy and the likes. Death is a state from which no one returns to the old life. Therefore, we are not to return to our former lives after baptism.
4. WE MUST DO GOOD: Jesus says in the gospel “whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive the reward of a prophet… gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… will be rewarded….” (Matt. 10:40-42). In the first reading, the Shunem woman received Elisha with all kindness and she was rewarded. Beloved in Christ, what is our attitude towards those who devote their lives to the gospel? When they come to us, do we receive them? Or we just begin to say all sorts of words and gossip against them. All of us as disciples ought to receive one another and by so doing receive Christ. Have you not read the corporal work of mercy? Whatever you do to the least of these you do onto me. In fact, the generosity of the Shunem couple towards Elisha brought them the blessing and joy of their life and everything turned around for their good. Your prophet is for your prophet. The same way you are blessed for doing good to a prophet, so the good done to others attracts blessings. so Jesus says anyone who offers as little as a cup of cold water shall be rewarded. Beloved in Christ, do good, there is a reward. Beloved, be hospitable and welcoming and your life will turn around for good.
