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To be a disciple means to take up your cross, and loose your life for Jesus' sake, and you will find it.
"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will loose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it." (Mk 8: 34-35)
Are you ready to follow Jesus more closely? Are you ready to loose your life for Jesus? Are you ready to make real changes and start to work for Jesus?
Always the first action for being a disciple is to spend time with Jesus in prayer. The next action is to start to change the way we do things personally, to be more loving, more patient, more forgiving. As we pray each day we should begin to see these subtle changes happening within our life. The first four weeks were about establishing a prayer life. Gradually the next four were about making those small changes in our character. Now has come the time to help build God's kingdom. You are about to loose more of your life, but you will find so much more if you help build God's kingdom.
BUILDING GOD'S KINGDOM
It is time to get involved in some kind of Catholic ministry if are not already part of one. We are going to explore the question of leadership and service, which are both initimately linked. To be a true Christian leader is to serve. How can you help others? Take a moment to really think about this question.
What are your gifts? Each of us have many gifts, may be music, laughter, being able to get things done, computers, sport, ... there are many gifts. The key is to find a new way to use your gifts. This might mean to join a youth group. To visit a nursing home. You might be aware of an issue in your local community, state, national, or global. What organisation best deals with that issue? Is there a Catholic organisation that deals with that issue? Work out something that you are aware of where you can do more. Ideally something which you can share with others and become more involved. Here are some steps to follow to help you.
1) Spend time thinking about all the possibilities. If you can't think of anything, ask yourself these questions
a) What most needs to change in the world?
b) How can I make a difference around me?
c) What organisations are there in my parish that I am most interested in?
d) What organisations in my diocese am I most interested in?
e) Who do I know, needs my help the most?
f) Who can most benefit from the talents I have?
2) Once you have an area that you would like to get involved in, work out how best to get involved.
a) What are the organisations that I am part of doing about it?
b) Who shares my ideas?
c) What is my parish doing about it?
d) What is my diocese doing about it?
There are many ways to respond to this question. The key is to go beyond your comfort zone doing something you believe in. It should be shared with others. Once you have decided to do a particular thing you will need to be aware of the following issues.
A) Decide to get involved on a regular sustainable basis. This could be weekly, fortnightly, or monthly. It should not be for more than 2 hours a week, unless you have the free time. Generally an hour a week should be fine.
B) Share your thoughts with others. Find someone you know who is sympathetic to your plan and share the journey with them. You may share your idea with someone and they may think you are crazy. This can be the greatest hurdle. Accept their advice, as painful as it might be, but there is no reason for you to agree with it. If it hurts, then you will need to share the burden with someone you know will be sympathatic to you and provide emotional support. Re-assess the idea, pray gain strength and talk to others. Maybe talk to someone who is already doing what you hope to do and ask their advice. Good encouraging advice is what is needed. But we also need critical advice that will guide us to not be too wayout or unrealistic with our ideas. There needs to be a balance.
C) Allow your idea to evolve. If the idea involves others, then it will evolve. Your original idea will be modified and refined. It may end up totally different to the original impulse. Allow for all that to happen. As an idea draws others in, their ideas will need to be incorporated into yours and compromise will need to take place, but this can lead to a greater richness in the end. It also means the other person feels heard and has ownership of their part of the plan. This is very important for the long term survival of the idea. Sometimes the other person wants to make such major changes that it is clear compromise would not be tenable, would not work. Just as for Jesus, some came along the journey and others did not.
D) Take the risk. There will come the point when the choice will be yours to start, or to keep going, or to ask the initial question. Do it. Jesus stood up and did it. We must do the same. If you fail at some point. That's OK - it's a marathon not a sprint. God forgives. Keep up your prayer life and gradually what you thought hard will one day become routine. inch by inch is a sinch, yard by yard is too hard.
E) Take reasonable steps. Not too much too quickly and not too little too slowly. A reasonable step that is repeated over a good period of time, eg an hour a week for 3 months. Too much and we easily give up. Too little and there is no real growth.
F) Celebrate. Give yourself some reward for your achievements. Share your achievements with others. Let your light shine.
Day 3 First passion prediction Mk 8:31
Day 4 Misunderstanding of disciples Mk 8:32-33
Day 5 Discipleship Mk 8:34 - 9:1
Day 6 The Transfiguration Mk 9:2-13
Day 7 The Demoniac Boy Mk 9:14-29
Day 1 Second passion prediction and misunderstanding of disciples Mk 9:30-32
Again Jesus predicts his death. Again they did not understand and did not ask. If only they asked! What do you need to ask Jesus about?
Day 2 Instruction of disciples on service Mk 9:33-37
"Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." Real leadership, is real service. God is in control of the world, he sees all. If you take the lowest place, he will raise you up. It is the people who give in the world that keep it going and have joy. It is the people who take, that get annoyed, and frustrated. They are the ones who start conflicts. The reason for conflict is because people take. The reason for peace, is because people give. The lowest place is the place of greatest giving. This is Christs place. This is your place.
Day 3 Offenses Mk 9:38-50
Even to give a glass of water for Christ's sake, has it's reward. What reward would there be to be in the lowest place? By being a beacon of truth and removing barriers to God, you will be like John the Baptist making the path straight. To do this, is to be salty, because you will proclaim the ten commandments, eg no sex before marriage. You will be salty to others. They will find you a challenge. You will loose some prestige, maybe even friendships. But you will gain true friendships with true Catholics. Friendships based on truth. You will have all the angels and saints on your side. You may have lost some of your former life. It may be hard. But you will gain your true life in God. Proclaim the truth!
Day 4 Divorce Mk 10:1-12
Again, proclaim the truth of Marriage. Divorce is wrong. Though marriages can be annuled if the two people did not unconditionally love each other when they were married. To stand up for marriage is a 'salty' thing to do. But who will do it, unless you do it?
Day 5 Christ and Little Children Mk 10:13-16
Is it hard to follow all this teaching? Accept it like a little child and it will be easy. Trust God and you will be free. Just do it.
Day 6 The Rich Inquirer Mk 10:17-22
Are you ready to sell all you have, to live this new life?
Day 7 Who then can be Saved? Mk 10:23-31
For the disciples this appeared to be too hard. "For God all things are possible." Prayer is the key, step be step, inch by inch. Gradually God will transform, lead and guide. 5 minutes a day. Just 5 minutes a day.
