DISCIPLESHIP: AN IMITATION OF CHRIST

Given to the Divine Mercy Apostolate St. Jude Parish, Davao City February 16, 2010

I. Introduction It is not an exaggeration when we say every Christian is invited to be a disciple of Jesus. The topic of Discipleship, that is universal in character, is one of the central themes of the Gospel. The call of the first four disciples Simon, Andrew, James and John (Mt 4: 18-22) constitutes the scenes of vocation that are the beginning of the history of discipleship. Jesus life and public ministry are open invitations to discipleship because he reveals himself as the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6). All humanity is looking for the way, the truth, and the life. Hence, he invites all to embrace his discipleship. In fact the invitation to discipleship is addressed to all men and women who desire to be incorporated into Gods Kingdom. Jesus explains Gods Kingdom1 through parables, miracles, healing, and exorcism of demons, etc. These are the ways of calling people to discipleship. How do we respond to this call according to the conditions he presented? Questions: 1. How is your Christian faith now? 2. As Christian, how do you exercise discipleship? II. Disciple and Discipleship The word disciple means to walk behind, to follow. In the New Testament one became a disciple only when called by Jesus himself (e.g., Mark 1:17; 2:14). To become a disciple, therefore, was to enter into a lifelong relationship with Jesus (Mark 3:14) and even to share in his suffering and death (Mark 10:39; 8:34). In other words, a disciple is a follower of the way of Jesus. The way of Jesus is the way of love a love that is selfless, self-emptying, self-giving. In the Greek sense of the term, it is Agape, a love that is unconditional. In others words, it is also the way of the cross a love that is willing to lay down one's life for one's friends (Jn 15: 13). (Insert Topic on LOVE) Discipleship is a vocation. A person never becomes a disciple of Jesus except by a vocation from him. Jesus explained the specialty of his discipleship saying, You did not choose me, but I chose you (Jn 15:16). Discipleship is a response. Once the call has sounded, response must be immediate. It means that there should be perfect readiness to follow and to conform to him. This call does not seem to be a command, but a gift. Fascinated at the gift, they leave behind their old self and relatives. Discipleship is a call to the imitation of Christ. The disciple was to act as Jesus himself: with compassion, humility, generosity, and suffering service of others (Mark 9:33-50; 10:4245). Disciples are called to make a commitment. From the disciples, Jesus wanted a commitment without reserve and with immediate effect (Lk 9:61; 9:59). Following him means entering irrevocably into a fellowship of life with him. Hence Jesus was careful to warn against thoughtless decisions to follow him (Lk 9:58; 14:2833). The disciples availability must be so complete that he
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Jesus said of his purpose, "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."(Jn 10:10). Mark says that Jesus came to "give his life as a ransom for many"(Mk 10:45); Luke, that he was sent to "preach the good news of the
Kingdom of God" (Lk 4:43) and John, that he came so that "those who believed in him would have eternal life" (Jn 3:16). He commissioned his apostles to carry on his work, his purpose.

goes so far as to hate his own life (Lk 14:26), so that he might be used for any service whatsoever. This total commitment is a basic necessary element involved in following Jesus. Disciples are called to continue Jesus mission. The very purpose of election, formation and finally sending them out to the world is to continue Jesus mission in this world.2 Jesus mission was to show the way of salvation to the whole humanity. Jesus puts himself forward as the model to be followed when he says, Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart (Mt 11:29). Thus, Central to the mission of Jesus is to do the will of the Father. III. Conditions of Discipleship3 A. Identifying with masters destiny. Jesus presents himself as the way to the Father. Jesus disciples are designated as followers of his way. A disciple of Jesus is the one who is supposed to identify himself with Jesus. To follow the way implies metaphorically to follow the Risen Jesus (Crucified-Glorified Jesus). The definition of Christian identity can be nothing other than the following of Jesus: Whoever wishes to be my follower must deny his very self, take up his cross each day, and follow in my steps (Lk 9:23; cf Mk 8:34; cf Mt 10:38). B. Listening to masters voice.4 In John we see a different picture of discipleship in the metaphor of the shepherd and the sheep. More than narrating the conditions to be disciples, here Jesus is presented as the good shepherd and the disciples are those who have recognized and acknowledged him: When he has brought out all those that are his, he walks in front of them and the sheep follow him because they recognize his voice (Jn 10:4). My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me (Jn 10:27). The one who calls the disciples has set the path and the style of life for identifying with the master, and it cannot be and need not be altered. C. Becoming part of the family. Following Jesus means that the followers must become part of his family in accordance with the will of God (Mk 3:34-35, participating in his destiny, living in profound communion with him (Mk 3:14), and accepting his way of life (Mk 10:45) D. Self-renouncing towards a new self. The discipleship demands renouncing of self in specific ways. It cannot be compatible with worldly standards. The Kingdom of God that the disciples are looking for is pure gift and grace that the disciple must embrace in humility and faith in God. E. Imitating the master. In Pauls writings we see his invitation to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Cor 11:1; 4:16; Phil 3:17; 1 Thes 1:6; 2 Thes 3:7; 3:9). Based on Jesus invitation to follow him in the Gospels, Paul presents God as the direct object of imitation: Be imitators of God as his dear Children (Eph 5:1). In fact the imitation of Christ and the discipleship of Christ are closely associated in the theological understanding of following Jesus.
Fr. Quirico Pedregosa, O.P. would say, to be sent out in love to others by Jesus belongs to the very identity of his disciples. Jesus said, For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." (Mt 12:50) 3 Manuel Ezharampil, CMF, Jesus Formation of the New Family Around Him as a Prototype for the Formation to Consecrated Life, Religious Life Asia, July-September 2003. 4 Our greatest model of discipleship is Mother Mary. She was a Listener of the Word. She was present in Jesus life and mission, from the beginning to the end (cf Gospel of John). She is thus the Perfect Disciple of Jesus and a perfect model of every Christian who would like to follow Jesus.
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 Christian life is a matter of living, not of words; dedicating all our hearts and efforts to build the Christian way, to follow or imitate Jesus, no matter which expression may sound best in formulating Christian spirituality. Following does not just walking behind the master. In fact it signifies becoming a new person and a new humanity. The God who is revealed in Jesus is the one who incarnates himself in human weakness assuming the form of a servant and walks the way of the cross (Phil 2:5-11). By his suffering and death, Jesus shows the supreme of love. A Christian is one who is invited to imitate this act of great love. This is the significance of the post-paschal discipleship and the following of Jesus. This is the process that allows Christ to raise within us a new person and a new humanity. It is to reproduce in us the image of Jesus or another Christ (in persona Christi). F. Dynamic openness. Becoming new person and a new humanity is a result of a dynamic and creative imitation of Jesus and his teachings. Hence, a true discipleship demands a dynamic movement, open to new ideas and continuous change and updating without forgetting that our purpose is to recreate the original model. III. Summary: The word disciple means to walk behind, to follow, thus; a disciple is a follower of the way of Jesus. The call to discipleship is a call to the imitation of Christ (John 13:15).5 The way of Jesus is the way of love, which is unconditional and self-emptying. The disciple was always to be marked by love (John 13: 34-35), in particular love for one another. To love one another as he loved is to give oneself wholly and fully here and now to the other. Charity/Love is the indispensable mark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Therefore, love for one another within the community of believers is the permanent sign of its belonging to Christ, of its members being truly his disciples. I give you a new commandment: love one another6. As I have loved you7, so you also should love one another8. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (cf. Jn. 13:34-35).

5 At the Last Supper Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and told them: I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do. 6 We cannot really appreciate the challenge of this commandment unless we have a full grasp of the depths of Jesus love for us. If John insists on the one another, if he singles out the members of the community of believers, then it is for the very

evident reason that each member of this community is in fact ones immediate neighbor. The Johannine community knew from bitter experience what we all too often choose to forget, that charity does indeed begin at home.
Jesus sets up the norm and measure of Christian love once and for all in this world. He himself loved to the end (13:1). So it is in this totality of self-donation that the new element in the commandment of love is to be found. There are, therefore, in this new commandment no measurable, no quantifiables. 8 Christian discipleship according to the Gospel of John means a willingness to bear witness to ones faith in Jesus in a hostile world.
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