The Gospel today challenges us to ponder what it means to be true followers of Christ. Jesus questions the disciples “who do you say I am?’” and proposes to them the ultimate challenge of discipleship “if anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me”.
How would we respond to these words of Jesus if they were addressed to us today? Would we be able to show the world that we are followers of Jesus?
The call to discipleship is one of love, especially in the small things. As Christians we are called to proclaim the Good News and show others the relevance of Jesus in our lives by witnessing to our faith in humility and love, and by acting as Christ did. The call to discipleship also implies a call to mission, for when we truly experience the joy of knowing God and being loved by him we have a desire to share this joy with others. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives impels us to evangelise, and just like the first disciples, we hope that by sharing the gift of our faith many in our communities will come to know the love of Christ through us and the life of the Church, as an experience of joy and love.
Deepening our faith helps us to grow closer to Jesus and rediscover again the joy of knowing Christ and being loved by Him. We can grow in friendship with Jesus and come to discover the depth of his love for us and the constancy of his presence in our lives by reflecting on his self giving sacrifice on the Cross. In the silence of our hearts we can offer our struggles, emptiness, and pain completely to him, trusting in his unconditional love which has the power to bring light and hope even into the darkest areas of our lives. Although life has many challenges, in our prayer time this week perhaps we can acknowledge God’s loving presence in our life and give thanks for the gift of our faith which gives us the courage to face the future with him.
“In a word, let us say “Yes” to the God who is love, life and freedom, and who never disappoints; let us say “Yes” to the God who is the Living One and the Merciful One. Only faith in the Living God saves us: in the God who in Jesus Christ has given us his own life by the gift of the Holy Spirit and has made it possible to live as true sons and daughters of God through his mercy. This faith brings us freedom and happiness.” (Pope Francis 16th June 2013)
