Steps to Discipleship

  If we seriously intend to transform our paths into experienced ‘ paths of righteousness ’ (Psalm 23), we must allow God to lure us back into the wilderness where the Lord can speak to us tenderly as we rediscover our ‘ first love ’ (Hosea 2,14-15): ” We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted. We cannot presume that we will not repeat this ‘ stepping back ’ into fruitless adventures: love is beautiful, but beauty is a fragile gift. Our only assurance is to deepen intimate dialogue lived out in solitude: it strengthens our ability to listen since it deepens our commitment to the narrow path, because wide is the path leading to destruction (Matthew 7,13-15).   The intended intimacy raises a question concerning how to understand prayer. It is presumed that no practice is necessary; imprudent, because only practice permits perfection since discipleship intends a personal relationship signified by prayer ( Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 2558). However, li...

  Speaking of love is tempting, nauseatingly so. It is readily nominated and promoted. Preached repeatedly, its complexities are unexplored, and its demands are ignored. Thus, Romeo confides in his friend Mercutio about love’s heavy burden with Juliet: “ Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn .” (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, I.4). This proves likewise where discipleship is concerned.  Yes, how often I am disturbed by the presence of others: the persistent old lady who babbles about everyone, especially the priest and not necessarily in a complimentary fashion, insisting that she is holy! And what about that person who keeps asking for money to sustain their vices? Those who seek you when needed but ignore you otherwise: worse when burdened with others’ sins like a beaten dog.  Josemaria Escrivà insists that I should not say that a person bothers me, but that person sanctifies me! That person is none other th...

  Preaching exposes a danger: entitlement, which can degenerate into a presumption to notice the speck in others’ eyes and ignore the plank in my own eye (Matthew 7, 3-5). Sometimes, lacking a realistic self-understanding, we replace the Good News by self-righteousness. Other times, ignoring the Gospel’s counsels, we impose our vision of things, oblivious of Wordsworth’s insight that “ The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly ”.  Delving deeper into the significance of Wordsworth’s observation challenges us to explore intricate relationships between shyness, humility, and the essence of fragrance – a thought-provoking trek because it challenges us to evaluate value, beauty, and our understanding of what is truly important, which reminds us of the Magister’s affirmation: “ Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ” (Matthew 7,13). Ignoring this advice, we are stumped.  Harden...

  Duplicity points to unsurpassed subjectivity dressed up as objectivity, limited by prejudices and self-gratifications, not our discipleship. Self-centred, we can only pretend to be Minorem (lesser servants). Cocooned in our exclusiveness, protected from the world beyond our cloisters, we reinforce our presence so that God is merely the total of our identity. Focused on ourselves and consumed by our needs, we perceive others as disposable. This undermines projects that intend to witness our identity but which actually serve to justify our existence. Rejecting the cross as the narrow door to understanding our discipleship, personal emotional impositions prevail. We prefer to write books about models of our spirituality. Finding solace in our traditions and historical identity, we are confined to a darkened cave, enslaved to consuming time; we are unwilling to risk and embrace evangelical hope.  Our resistance to evangelical hope prevents us from grasping faith’s true signific...

  Hiddenness, evoked by images of salt, light, and yeast (Mt. 5,13-16), highlights an outreach underlined by silence. They recall our mundaneness and challenge us to re-evaluate it: not to ignore it but to use it to deepen our understanding of faith.   The silence highlighting this reappraisal expresses a gained restfulness, reminding us of Vigil’s “ vires acquirit eundo ” (We gather strength as we go), which I identify with the Shabbat-Shalom : a gained restfulness beyond the clatter that conditions our hearts.  Whether superfluous words, disinformation, witnessed injustices or life’s crests and troughs, we are reminded to stop and think: to set our minds on things that are above (Colossians 3,2) and focus on Christ (Romans 12,2) so that renewed in our attitudes (Ephesians 4,23), we align our hearts to “ whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ” (Philippians 4,8).  We gather strength by guarding our hear...

  Discipleship demands a restfulness permeated by solitude experienced in prayer. For some, this quietness spells frustrated boredom; for others, an absurd existence recalling Sisyphus, king of Corinth, who cheated death twice but was then condemned to a futile restlessness.  This evoked restfulness mirrors the Eucharistic silence where we are invited to eliminate the superfluous by embracing God’s Presence existentially. Self-centredness, ignoring the quality of our thoughts, leads to difficulties, which can enrich our understanding of the cross as our frame of reference.  Moving on, we tune our hearts to the Spirit’s stirrings, which integrate dynamic, transformative action: a renewal of our hearts reflected in our choices for Christ.  Martin 

  Renewing society is discussed but not actualised: profit, entitlement, and self-promotion undermine it.  Notwithstanding the promises, inertia accompanies it, because renewal challenges society to confront its fault lines with renovated horizons. Equity and equality, freedom and ‘ laïcisme ’, though not necessarily understood, are claimed as banners pushing for a ‘ new brave world ’ that intends not only to challenge, but to do away with boundaries that are now perceived as outdated. As disciples, we need to critically analyse these proposals and salt them with  the Good News (Matthew 5,13).  An experienced renewal inspired by discipleship is, by its very nature, inclusive, because God’s ‘ loving-kindness ’ (Hesed) is not denied to anyone. Recognising our prejudices, we accept each person because we intend to strengthen our dignity. Inclusiveness is welcomed, unless it is mere manipulative scheming. A secular state is en vogue as the only guarantee of per...

  It is tempting to  strengthen pastoral efficiency by emphasising s tatistical strategies, tradition or appearance. Visibility's success is short termed:  it can undermine our credibility by misinterpreting our true identity.  Catholic ecclesiology has a pulsating heart that radiates an understanding that projects the ecclesial community as a continued incarnation, affirmed by the Catechism (521):   “Christ enables us to live in him all that he himself lived, and he lives it in us. ‘By his Incarnation, he, the Son of God, has in a certain way united himself with each man’ [GS 22 §2] .  We are called only to become one with him, for he enables us as members of his Body to share in what he lived for us in his flesh as our model.”  This comprehension is enriched by “ Christ, the one Mediator, ” who “ established and continually sustains here on earth His holy Church, the community of faith, hope and charity, as an entity with visible delineation through ...

  Forty years ordained: time to reassess and move on. When cooking, tasting assures excellence. Likewise, experience addresses our heart to the silence of theTabernacle: little else matters.   We misinterpret our presence, presuming that we actually make a difference. When vanity underlines our efforts, it shades the need to let the Magister lead the way. Embracing the cross, it lightens our heart and brightens our mind. Honest intent is important because it witnesses conversion.    Encountering the Magister’s face, now mirrored in other faces, challenges us to reassess our self-understanding. Otherwise, a dichotomy between what we say and what we do becomes the norm. Consequently, our heart is restless because it distances itself from the Magister. Confined to ornate subjectivity, we convince ourselves otherwise. Somehow, by wearing particular garbs or practising particular devotions, we overlook our perfidies. Some claim innocence, seeking truth, but “ light, ...

  This above all; to thine own self be true. And it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man  (William Shakespeare, Hamlet , I,3).   This quote depicts the importance of staying honest and faithful to one’s own values. Spoken by Polonius as fatherly advice to his son Laertes, it emphasises that personal integrity and inner truth are the foundations of a meaningful life. It necessarily verifies a responsibility towards others. Considered as a whole, it highlights the importance of conscience; its formation. Conscience’s formation cannot ignore external influences, social and contemporary self-understandings, which downplay responsibility but highlight rights. Misled, we can redirect our understanding of conscience: rather than truth, self-interests prevail. Rather than grounded in who we truly are, an image of who we desire to be replaces it.  Faith is not immune: religiosity replaces the need to evaluate our choices – the need ...

  Harmony enlightens our path, but it is not easily comprehended when divorced from the need to encounter Jesus in intimate dialogue. The latter necessitates solitude, often abhorred because it is confused with loneliness, which entails an unsought alienation whose hallmark is desolation.  In contrast, solitude belongs to a feeling of wellbeing so that, as Scipio points out, ‘ one is never less alone than when alone ’ (Nunquam minus solus quam cum solus): an insight strengthened with time; our emotional harmonious integration is its hallmark.   Harmony highlights discipleship if addressed by an intimate dialogue enriched by clarity of intention summed up by the Shema' Yisrael's listening stillness   (Deuteronomy 6,4-9). Even when outwardly engaged, we are invited to treasure it: Mary, rather than Martha (Luke 10,38-42), further strengthened by Luke’s observation: “ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart ” (Luke 2,19).  Harmony e...

  It’s not easy to discuss prayer: exposing our hearts is not necessarily appreciated or understood. Regrettably, many perceive prayer as mere articulation, liturgical celebrations, or emotionally focused gatherings; few pierce the ramparts to discover its heart. Virgil’s ‘ Amor gignit amorem ’ (Love begets love), guides my steps; like an Oriental garden, stepping stones expressive of envisaged choices form a path fusing the past to the future in the present.  Augustine’s affirmation that prayer is the articulation of love offers a fundamental insight. Saint John Damascene strengthens this discernment by observing that prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God because only our longing of mind and heart makes prayer genuine. Saint Bonaventure’s I tinerarium in Mentis elucidates this comprehension. Saint Teresa’s affirmation also demands attention: prayer is an act of love; words are superfluous (Interior Castle), verified by Bernini’s portrayal of her in Santa Maria...

What is written often has a long-lasting impact, maturing with time: what begins as a silent sound roaming in the unconscious ends up engraved in ink.  Not all that is expressed is welcomed nor desired, but, as pointed out by Bonhoeffer, “ God does not fulfil all our desires, but all His promises .”  Integrating this insight, it is difficult to speak of discipleship, ignoring Dietrich Bonhoeffer: his ‘ Nachfolge ’ (first published in 1937, translated as ‘ The Cost of Discipleship ’) sets the mode of this reflection.  While questioning some of Bonhoeffer's biblical and theological notions, his witnessing the Magister and contributions to modern theological thought within a short time – he was hanged at the age of thirty-nine – remains much treasured. Hence, exploring Bonhoeffer’s insight concerning discipleship, we need to define it. Bonhoeffer provides us with an insight by equating discipleship with ‘ Following in the sense of coming consciously after the Magister ’, whi...

As Joyce points out in his daring Finnegans Wake , “ They lived and laughed and loved and left .” Many prefer to be amiable without actually embellishing their cordiality with commitment: they are happy to meet occasionally, eat something and even travel together, but then each to his own, unconcerned. This can refer to the remembrance of a long-loved person who refuses to wake up from its slumber: lost friendships that never flowered into love. Shakespeare points out, “ Most friendship is feigning, most loving folly ” ( As You Like It , II.7 ). Most don’t seem to notice or prefer not to and yet,  beyond our misplaced feelings, fellowship embellishes our commitment to Christ.  This comprehension is accentuated because fellowship in a brave new cosmic order, subjected to social media, simulates instant coffee: press a button and a friendship is born! Neither love nor commitment is envisaged: we neither walk with each other nor suffer with or for each other, so that fellowship...

  Speaking of love in the Second Testament, it is necessary to distinguish ‘ Agapeo ’ (unconditional love underlined by commitment) from ‘ Phileo ’ (a desired mutual friendship).  ‘ Agapeo ’ ascertains God’s ‘ nature ’, for God is ‘ Agape ’: “ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love ” (1John 4,7-8).  Rather than a feeling, Agape identifies with what it does, not with what it feels. Thus, the above-cited “ Dear friends ” doesn’t express the author’s intention. He uses ‘ agapetoi ’ to emphasise that theirs is not mere friendship but a communion experienced in faith marked by their commitment to the Magister. Only thus can the author affirm: “ This is how God showed his agape among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him ” (1John 4,9).  ‘ Agape ’ indicates a commitment beyond imposed limits; expectations...

Solitude and faith have deep roots in scripture and the writings of the church fathers. They often appear together, highlighting spiritual growth and communion with God.  Unsurprisingly, Jesus often withdrew to lonely places to pray (Luke 5,16). His example reaffirms the need to examine our understanding of solitude and its role in deepening God’s Presence in our life. Solitude is not a withdrawal from responsibility, but a thirsting after God: its purpose highlights its role. It is not accidental that “ Ora ed Labora ” summarises Saint Benedict’s vision of monasticism because solitude intends personal commitment surpassing a comfy existence: it is service-focused, allowing us ' to smell the sheep ' (Pope Francis). The stillness that accompanies reinforces this insight.  Stillness deepens our understanding of faith as relational trust, and not just intellectual assent: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11,1). This invo...

  Pureness of heart permits us to encounter God in others (Matthew 5,8). Lacking pureness of heart, abuse is ensured: focusing solely on ourselves is easily mistaken for God’s will and the temptation to use others to satisfy personal needs or interests.  Neither can we limit it to things sexual, which sometimes is interpreted as an excuse to detach from others in an attempt not to get hurt.  We are tempted to speak rather than to listen; to teach rather than to learn; to do rather than to be, but this does not suffice when speaking of discipleship highlighted by prayer focused on the cross.  Contemplating the Crucifix, we learn not to rush: to embrace Shabbat’s stillness, now encountered on Golgotha, as a path to better insights and more profound exploits, which identify with the empty tomb.  Revitalised by this stillness, contemplating His body upon the cross, we are invited to live committed love because our wounds have been healed (1Peter 2, 24): to be “ stil...

Questions are not necessarily welcome. Locked behind barred doors for fear of others (John 20,19), it’s dangerous stepping outside, because “ if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be s wept off to ” (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring ). We readily limit the significance of the cross to an emblem to consolidate a religious or cultural identity, not as indicative of my search for truth, which can be merely subjective, conditioned by an inability to question: does this suffice for a Christian?  Laying the old life behind in the mists, we venture into the light. This adventure intends to explore the Magister’s assertion: “ I am the way and the truth and the life ” (John 14,6). No, the cross is not an excuse to enhance our misery because “ misery acquaints a man with strange bed-fellows ” (William Shakespeare, The Tempest II.2 ). The cross’s significance highlights our baptism because, as pointed out by Saint Augustine, all those who belong to Jesus Ch...

  Contemplation is not an excuse for laziness because a life centred on prayer motivates us to do more, as Mother Teresa and others demonstrate.  We are accountable for our actions, even for those we do our best to ignore. Rather than fear, this warning intends to awaken us from our inertia, which is balanced by a criterion: ‘ Ora et Labora ’ (Prayer and Work). Origen points out that praying ceaselessly merges prayer with work ( Treatise on Prayer ). This is verified by the Prayer of the Heart , which insists that we become prayer so that work becomes its visible sign. Unless our actions are imbued with a listening heart, our doings mirror our subjectivity, not our willingness to witness the Magister.  Focused on who we are in God's eyes, we are aware that our attitude can either enrich or impoverish our prayer and doings. This is clearly emphasised by Paul’s insistence: “ Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing y...

  Contemplation is usually associated with monks and cloistered nuns: a lifestyle focused on prayer.  But how does it relate to us, soaked in a hive of activity?  Undoubtedly, contemplation not only underlines but also furnishes meaning to our lives.  To keep my mind in my heart marks the beginning  of contemplation - an insight associated with the Prayer of the Heart . What underlines this acumen is an awareness that the ‘ contemplatio ’ relates to a “ locked garden, a spring enclosed, a fountain sealed ” unlocked by love (Song of Songs 4,9.12; 5,1-2).  Rather than being distracted by our doings, unwilling to comprehend the Magister’s words, we need, as St. Jean Marie Vianney suggest, to close our eyes and mouth as we open our hearts in a dialogue focused on love: to seek in God our wholeness as we recognise our imperfections.  To comprehend this insight we need to listen: to sit at the Magister’s feet and let his voice enlighten us. So doing, we real...

  Focusing on Shabbat’s stillness, the cross becomes a sanctuary in time. Challenging our trustworthiness, it expresses a lived-out ' silentium'  underlined by the Magister’s reassuring presence: ‘ Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest ’ (Matthew 11,26).  Living our Agape – our committed love - hurts because, enkindled by the warmth of Christ’s presence, we mirror his ' self-emptying ’ (Kenosis) by being loyal to our baptismal promises.  Enkindled, we seek our restfulness in the Father through His Son, which offers us an equilibrium underlined by serenity strengthened by the Holy Spirit.   Unafraid, we plunge into the darkness of troubled hearts that lack the Magister’s restfulness, witnessing God’s ‘ loving-kindness ’ (Hesed), which initiates an adventure best defined by St. Ignatius as ‘ Contemplatio ad amorem ’.  Adventures can prove misleading when mistaken for escapades: hence, the need to identify with the Magister ...

  The insistence on “ babbling like pagans ” (Matthew 6,7) tempts us: it is freely embraced when God’s graciousness no longer suffices, and the cross is belittled.  Sometimes, we yearn for His gifts, rather than His presence, taking comfort in our presumptions! To understand our craving, which might take time, we need to place the cross as the key to sustaining our integrity.  The cross is God’s therapy, enabling us to encounter our fears and frustrations. It recalls us to its silence and how this experience contributes to the formation of our conscience (Catechism num. 1783-1785).  This silence sustains a dialogue of love: ignoring it reflects an attempt to hide our hearts from God: frustrated, because, as Jeremiah warns, “ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ” (29,13). Restless, ignoring prayerful dialogue, this endeavour is unrealistic.  Prayer exposes our hearts to God: recognising deceptions while discerning what underlies our...

Self-righteousness confirms ignorance: the inability to “ Know Thyself ”: excluded, discipleship is illusory because it fails to deliver results.  Focusing on this wisdom - knowing yourself , its deeper meaning -allows us to marvel at discipleship’s true significance: the Magister’s gaze, which provides us with a renewed self-understanding illuminating our choices,  unlocking our heart to a love that informs our conscience.  Abraham’s listening faith addresses this path: courageously, we embark on an adventure,  revealing the Divine’s  silence encountered in prayerful dialogue, which is preparatory to sustaining our deepening search for intimacy with the Magister.  Neither the risks nor the fears involved should be minimised. We should not confuse our desires with a fanciful imposed deception concerning discipleship: the initial accompanying emotions should be recognised for what they are; a passage pointing to deeper insights. We should, therefore, not be ...

Peacefulness, the sort of peace that pertains to the eye of the storm, is fictitious because, beyond the apparent quietness, the storm rages on.   Life is like that: as long as we direct its course, all appears normal. But as the storms of life penetrate our quietness, awakened from our slumber, we cry out: “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? ” (Psalm 22,1; Matthew 27.46; Mark 15,34).  This cry accompanies us in our adventurous decision to follow the Magister who points out that, “ a disciple is not above his teacher ” (Matthew 10,24). Forgetful, we create our own paths or pretend to do so and yet, he reminds us: “ I am the way and the truth and the life ” (John 14,6).   Encountering the raging waves, beyond the eye of the storm, the illusions of fidelity are swept away when we realise that our love is self-centred. We associate sin with what we do and not with what we become: hardened, calloused hearts; hardly able to hear, our eyes are sealed (Matthew 1...