Intentional Disciples

 

Dear Parishioners,

In the coming months you will be hearing about a specific path the Diocese of Camden will be taking regarding the task of evangelization. We will be examining the thoughts of the author Sherry A. Weddell and her book Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus. Bishop Williams has asked all of his priests as well as parish staff members and others throughout the diocese to read and discuss this book. I bring this to your attention as an invitation for anyone interested to join us.

It is well known that there are too many Catholics who may be baptized and have received their sacraments but are no longer practicing their faith or consider themselves Jesus' disciples. People say things like they are spiritual but not religious and ever-more-increasingly declare no formal affiliation to a church or religious denomination.

The main question pursued in this book is: Are we intentional disciples of Jesus? Do we know Jesus personally and are we committed to a radical lifestyle (discipleship) specifically following His teachings?

Bishop Williams has seen positive results back in his home Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and wants to replicate their success here in our diocese. With the help of Sherry Weddell and another Catholic evangelist and author Jeff Cavins, our diocese is fostering this journey towards an intentional discipleship of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Some of the topics along the path to intentional discipleship discussed in the book include trust, curiosity, openness, seeking and conversion. The meaning and understanding of God's grace and its fruitfulness (or lack thereof) is treated as well. The specifics of the book make good topics for discussion and are thought-provoking with the intended purpose of bringing more people to know and love Jesus as His disciples.

The Gospel for this Sunday (Mt. 4: 12-23) shows Jesus calling His initial disciples, who were fishermen, to become "fishers of men." In fact, by our baptism we should all seriously consider the task of making other disciples as He Himself commanded His followers at His Ascension:    

All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. (Mt. 28: 18-20)

I have stated before that Christianity is not like a spectator sport in which we simply watch others perform from our seats (or pews). True disciples have to take on difficult tasks such as pick up our crosses daily, love our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, repent and make other disciples.

Whether we are ultimately successful in this or any task will be left for God to judge. However, I think it is important for us continually to try to bring people to Jesus. To do nothing is not an option. The words of St. Teresa of Calcutta seem appropriate: “God has not called me to be successful; He has called me to be faithful.” 

Be faithful to the Lord as His disciple! It is always our personal (intentional) choice to do so.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor