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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