The True Discipleship to Christ

 


Discipleship is a profound journey that goes beyond belief; it is a call to total devotion, sacrifice, and obedience to Christ. It demands that we, like the first disciples, leave behind our ambitions and follow Christ wholeheartedly. This path of discipleship reorients our entire life toward Christ and His teachings. It is a lifelong commitment, renewed daily, as we live in union with Him through worship, prayer, and the Eucharist.

In the Divine Liturgy, we are reminded that discipleship is not a singular decision but a continual act of faith, where we offer our lives to Christ as He offers Himself to us. As we partake in His Body and Blood, we are invited to follow His example of self-giving love, empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry our cross daily and live as His true disciples.

What Does It Mean to Be a Disciple of Christ?

Discipleship is not simply a matter of belief but a call to total commitment, sacrifice, and obedience. In the same way that Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John immediately left everything to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22), we too are called to place Christ above all else. Discipleship demands the reorientation of our lives around Christ and His teachings.

As we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, we are reminded that discipleship is not just a one-time decision but a daily renewal. Each time we gather for worship, we are called to recommit ourselves to Christ, offering our lives to Him just as He offers Himself to us. The Liturgy is a participation in the life of Christ—His death, resurrection, and glorification. Just as Jesus offered Himself fully for us, so too are we invited to offer our whole selves to Him.

Central to our liturgical life is the Eucharist, the sacrament through which Christ gives Himself to us as the ultimate sacrifice. In the Eucharist, we encounter the heart of discipleship: self-denial and sacrificial love. In giving His Body and Blood Jesus, models what it means to be a disciple—He lays down His life for us, and in return, we are called to lay down our lives for Him.

In Luke 9:23, Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” This call to self-denial is beautifully mirrored in the Eucharist. Each time we partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are reminded of the sacrifice He made for our salvation. As Christ offers Himself to us in the Eucharist, He invites us to participate in His sacrificial love and to take up our own cross daily.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ in light of the Eucharist? It means allowing the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice to shape our lives. As we receive His Body and Blood, we are empowered to live in obedience to His commandments, to love as He loved, and to serve as He served. In the Eucharist, we are not just passive recipients but active participants in the life of Christ, called to reflect His self-giving love to the world.

What Is the Goal of Discipleship to Christ?

The ultimate goal of discipleship is to glorify God the Father. Just as Jesus lived a life of perfect obedience to His Father, so we are called to do the same. In the Liturgy, we join Christ in glorifying the Father through our prayers, hymns, and participation in the Eucharist. The very structure of the Liturgy reflects our journey as disciples, moving us from repentance to communion with God, from self-denial to the joy of union with Christ.

 

The goal of our discipleship is not only personal transformation but the glorification of the Father through our lives. In John 17:4, Jesus prays, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” As disciples, we are called to reflect the same obedience, living in such a way that every aspect of our lives brings glory to God. The Eucharist becomes the source and summit of this mission, for in receiving Christ, we are sent out into the world to glorify the Father through our actions, words, and love.

The Father’s Empowerment through the Holy Spirit

It is the Father who empowers us to live out our discipleship through the Holy Spirit. In the Liturgy, we invoke the Holy Spirit to descend upon us and upon the gifts we offer, transforming them into the Body and Blood of Christ. This same Spirit who sanctifies the gifts also sanctifies us, empowering us to follow Christ and live as true disciples.

The Holy Spirit plays an essential role in our journey of discipleship. He leads us, strengthens us, and equips us to live lives of obedience, self-denial, and service. Without the Spirit’s power, we cannot fulfill the call to take up our cross and follow Christ. As we receive the Eucharist, the Holy Spirit works in us, conforming us more and more into the image of Christ and enabling us to live out His commandments.

The Father, in His love, has not left us alone in our journey of discipleship. He has given us the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who guides us into all truth and empowers us to glorify Him through our lives. As we celebrate the Liturgy, we are reminded of the Father’s constant presence with us, leading us by His Spirit to live as faithful disciples.

How to Be a True Disciple of Christ

1. Embrace Self-Denial and Sacrifice

   The journey of discipleship begins with self-denial, just as Jesus taught in Luke 9:23. We are called to lay down our own ambitions and desires, trusting that God’s will is far greater than our own. In the Liturgy, we offer our lives to God as a living sacrifice, uniting ourselves with Christ’s own sacrifice in the Eucharist.

2. Live in Obedience to Christ

   Obedience is at the heart of discipleship. Jesus calls us to follow His commandments, especially the commandment to love God and to love others as He loved us. As we partake of the Eucharist, we are reminded that Christ’s love for us was demonstrated through His obedience to the Father, even to the point of death. We are called to live out that same obedience in our daily lives.

3. Serve Others with Humility

 In John 13:15, after washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus said, “I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” Discipleship is about humble service, putting others’ needs before our own. In the Liturgy, we are reminded of Christ’s ultimate act of service, offering His life for our salvation. We, too, are called to serve others in love and humility, following the example of our Lord.

4. Count the Cost of Discipleship

   Discipleship is not a casual decision; it is costly. Jesus calls us to count the cost, for following Him requires everything. The Eucharist reminds us of this cost, as Christ gave His very life for our sake. As disciples, we must be willing to surrender whatever stands in the way of fully following Christ.

5. Seek First the Kingdom of God

   Discipleship means seeking God’s kingdom above all else. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” The Liturgy helps us refocus our lives on God’s kingdom, aligning our hearts with His will. As we receive Christ in the Eucharist, we are empowered to live with a kingdom-first mindset, prioritizing God’s purposes in all we do.

Conclusion: The True Discipleship to Christ

Being a true disciple of Christ is a call to total commitment, sacrifice, and obedience. It is a journey that we live out each day, renewed and empowered through the Holy Spirit. In the Liturgy, we celebrate this journey, participating in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. In the Eucharist, we receive the grace and strength to live as true disciples, following Christ’s example of self-denial, love, and humble service.

Let us go forth, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to live out our discipleship with faithfulness and love, always seeking to glorify God the Father in all we do. Amen.

Fr Abraam Sleman

 

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