Law of Discipleship

The WORD in other words by Fr Ed Guarin SVD – Christ the King Seminary Quezon City

Friday 18th Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel narrative, Jesus explains the law of discipleship when he says, “If anyone wishes to become my disciples, let them deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow me.”

First, it entails the denial of ourselves, that is, forfeiting what we desire and seek to attain in favor of what God demands of us. Submitting to God’s will is giving the best we have and do it now. This puts morality on an entirely different basis. It is no longer about being ‘good’ or self-righteous, but about knowing what compassion is, and being able to give and receive it. “Though Jesus was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” [Phil 2:6-8].

Second, it challenges us to take up our crosses. In the daily performance of our duties, we always encounter difficulties and dangers that become the crosses we need to carry. We may be ridiculed for our Christian beliefs, threatened due to our prophetic values, yet we proclaim and promote our faith. Our crosses must be looked upon as good, not evil, for the glory of God. They must be turned to our advantage. Never should we go a step out of the way of duty either to meet a cross or miss one. For through Christ’s death on the cross, those who turn to him are delivered from both the penalty and the power of sin (cf. 1 Pt 2:24-25).

Third, it enables us to follow Christ Jesus. We do not only draw our direction from Christ, but we also source our strength from him. He makes our crosses light and meaningful. He helps us carry them. Yoke yourself to me, and we will carry it together as Jesus would put it (cf. Mt 11:28-30).

This pattern of Jesus’ life marks the disciples’ path, and eventually the Church’s missionary journey. Passing through the gates of the cross in faithfulness to God’s will is Jesus’ story. That also should be our story as a Church under the tender loving care of Mama Mary, our Mother and the Mother of God.