Types of Discipleship (Contd).
The Disciples and the Risen Lord: That all the disciples especially the Apostles, were a shattered lot from the time Jesus was arrested is evident from all the Gospels as they saw that nothing worked out according to their expectations. Even just before his ascension, they were worried about establishing the sovereignty of Israel (See Acts, 1: 6). According to Matthew 28: 17, even at the last moment before the ascension of Jesus, some were doubtful. The same feeling of the disciples is expressed by Luke as fear and terror thinking that they have seen a ghost when Jesus appeared before them. Jesus had to dispel their wrong notions by asking them to touch him and verify the reality of his presence. Since they were still unconvinced , Jesus asked for something to eat and being given a cooked fish, he ate it before them (See Luke, 24: 36-43) John reports about a doubtful Thomas in the resurrection of Jesus and a despondent Peter who announced that he was going out fishing (See John, 20: 25; 21:2). We also know the mental state of the two disciples travelling to Emmaus to whom Jesus appeared and revealed his identity (See Luke, 24: 13-24).
The Discipleship of Mary, the Mother of Jesus: We may categorize the discipleship of Mary under 5 heads and see how she is the perfect disciple of Jesus chosen by God.
1. Mary accepted the Word of God without any Precondition: As a Jewish girl, Mary of Nazareth could think of the Word of God coming from the prophets of old, from psalms, from the books of Moses, etc. She never expected a message directly from God through the Archangel Gabriel that was beyond her comprehension. Yet, the moment it was revealed to her that the message was the Word of God for her, she completely dedicated her whole self to the service of the Word. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your Word" (Luke, 1: 38).
2. Mary took Pains to Offer her Services without Claiming Privileges: Mary undertook a journey from Galilee to Judea in order to be of service to Elizabeth as soon as she heard from the Angel that she was with child and it was her sixth month. She stayed there as long as Elizabeth needed her, i. e., for 3 months and then quietly returned home. Mary did not have any ulterior motive in helping Elizabeth nor did she expect anything in return (See Luke, 1: 39-56).
3. Mary Interceded for the Needy without Waiting to be Asked: At the marriage feast of Cana in Galilee, Mary asked Jesus for help as if it was her own problem. Jesus seems to distance himself from her request in order to tell her that she did not know what she was asking for. To perform a miracle would be the first step for Jesus to the cross, which was his time decided by the Father for the salvation of the world. Mary was unaware and unconcerned of her own suffering as a result of this first step of Jesus to the cross (See John, 2: 4).
4. Mary Practiced Detachment even in her Relationship to Jesus: Jesus always seemed to slip away from her hands, which taught her detachment needed for true attachment to Jesus. The experience in the Jerusalem Temple when Jesus was 12 years old, slightly reproaching his parents about their ignorance of his real mission: "Did you not know that I was bound to be in my Father's house?" and therefore there was no need of searching for him, was a real revelation for Mary although she did not understand what Jesus meant (See Luke, 2: 49-50). The same experience continued in later life too as, for example, when Jesus asks: "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" (Mark, 3:33). The new relationship to establish which Jesus came into the world is contained in his solemn announcement: "Whoever does the Will of God is my brother, my sister,my mother" (Mark, 3: 35).
5. Mary Pondered over Words and Actions of Jesus She could not Understand: This is what she did with her experience in the Temple of Jerusalem: "...his mother treasured up all these things in her heart" (Luke, 2: 51). As we have seen above, more of the same kind of experience was to follow during his public life. Above all, at the foot of the cross, a silent Mary is the epitome of the complete self-dedication before the unfathomable mystery of God (See John, 19: 26-27).
From the various types of discipleship, as we have seen, it is clear that discipleship is not something given once for all to the one called, but is a result of constant struggle. Initially the call of God through His graces is a must for discipleship. Response to the call has to come from us, which need not be static and fixed, but may be constantly fluctuating and renewing itself. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand the mysterious ways of God. Therefore, constant and unwavering faith emanating in unceasing prayer is an urgent requirement. The disciple becomes a transformed personality whereby the old self is dead and a new life in Christ takes its place. This new life is the light that enlightens those around the true disciple which is the same as bearing witness to Jesus and glorifying God the Father in the Spirit resulting in proclamation of the Good News, i.e., the Gospel.
From a general view of discipleship in the Posts so far, we shall now look at the concrete manifestations of discipleship in the coming Posts in as far as they are intimately connected to the proclamation of the Gospel.
The Disciples and the Risen Lord: That all the disciples especially the Apostles, were a shattered lot from the time Jesus was arrested is evident from all the Gospels as they saw that nothing worked out according to their expectations. Even just before his ascension, they were worried about establishing the sovereignty of Israel (See Acts, 1: 6). According to Matthew 28: 17, even at the last moment before the ascension of Jesus, some were doubtful. The same feeling of the disciples is expressed by Luke as fear and terror thinking that they have seen a ghost when Jesus appeared before them. Jesus had to dispel their wrong notions by asking them to touch him and verify the reality of his presence. Since they were still unconvinced , Jesus asked for something to eat and being given a cooked fish, he ate it before them (See Luke, 24: 36-43) John reports about a doubtful Thomas in the resurrection of Jesus and a despondent Peter who announced that he was going out fishing (See John, 20: 25; 21:2). We also know the mental state of the two disciples travelling to Emmaus to whom Jesus appeared and revealed his identity (See Luke, 24: 13-24).
The Discipleship of Mary, the Mother of Jesus: We may categorize the discipleship of Mary under 5 heads and see how she is the perfect disciple of Jesus chosen by God.
1. Mary accepted the Word of God without any Precondition: As a Jewish girl, Mary of Nazareth could think of the Word of God coming from the prophets of old, from psalms, from the books of Moses, etc. She never expected a message directly from God through the Archangel Gabriel that was beyond her comprehension. Yet, the moment it was revealed to her that the message was the Word of God for her, she completely dedicated her whole self to the service of the Word. "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your Word" (Luke, 1: 38).
2. Mary took Pains to Offer her Services without Claiming Privileges: Mary undertook a journey from Galilee to Judea in order to be of service to Elizabeth as soon as she heard from the Angel that she was with child and it was her sixth month. She stayed there as long as Elizabeth needed her, i. e., for 3 months and then quietly returned home. Mary did not have any ulterior motive in helping Elizabeth nor did she expect anything in return (See Luke, 1: 39-56).
3. Mary Interceded for the Needy without Waiting to be Asked: At the marriage feast of Cana in Galilee, Mary asked Jesus for help as if it was her own problem. Jesus seems to distance himself from her request in order to tell her that she did not know what she was asking for. To perform a miracle would be the first step for Jesus to the cross, which was his time decided by the Father for the salvation of the world. Mary was unaware and unconcerned of her own suffering as a result of this first step of Jesus to the cross (See John, 2: 4).
4. Mary Practiced Detachment even in her Relationship to Jesus: Jesus always seemed to slip away from her hands, which taught her detachment needed for true attachment to Jesus. The experience in the Jerusalem Temple when Jesus was 12 years old, slightly reproaching his parents about their ignorance of his real mission: "Did you not know that I was bound to be in my Father's house?" and therefore there was no need of searching for him, was a real revelation for Mary although she did not understand what Jesus meant (See Luke, 2: 49-50). The same experience continued in later life too as, for example, when Jesus asks: "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" (Mark, 3:33). The new relationship to establish which Jesus came into the world is contained in his solemn announcement: "Whoever does the Will of God is my brother, my sister,my mother" (Mark, 3: 35).
5. Mary Pondered over Words and Actions of Jesus She could not Understand: This is what she did with her experience in the Temple of Jerusalem: "...his mother treasured up all these things in her heart" (Luke, 2: 51). As we have seen above, more of the same kind of experience was to follow during his public life. Above all, at the foot of the cross, a silent Mary is the epitome of the complete self-dedication before the unfathomable mystery of God (See John, 19: 26-27).
From the various types of discipleship, as we have seen, it is clear that discipleship is not something given once for all to the one called, but is a result of constant struggle. Initially the call of God through His graces is a must for discipleship. Response to the call has to come from us, which need not be static and fixed, but may be constantly fluctuating and renewing itself. Without the help of the Holy Spirit, we cannot understand the mysterious ways of God. Therefore, constant and unwavering faith emanating in unceasing prayer is an urgent requirement. The disciple becomes a transformed personality whereby the old self is dead and a new life in Christ takes its place. This new life is the light that enlightens those around the true disciple which is the same as bearing witness to Jesus and glorifying God the Father in the Spirit resulting in proclamation of the Good News, i.e., the Gospel.
From a general view of discipleship in the Posts so far, we shall now look at the concrete manifestations of discipleship in the coming Posts in as far as they are intimately connected to the proclamation of the Gospel.
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