What kind of disciple are you?

Part 5 of a series of articles for the Lenten season by Msgr Michael de Verteuil, Chair of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission

I remember reading, but cannot remember where, that the only question of Lent for us is ‘what kind of disciple of Christ am I?’

Lent gives us the space and helps to focus on this question, and seek to become better disciples so that at Easter, we can commit ourselves afresh to the Lord as His disciples.

Here we are in the fifth week of Lent —still time to make the necessary changes to be a better disciple. This is very much the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, but that does not mean there is no effort to be made by us.

You may know the saying, “Pray as if everything depends on God; work as if everything depends on you.”

Change does not come from lying down in bed all day and asking God to change us —we must dispose ourselves to the working of the Lord.

Michael White and Tom Corcoran in Rebuilt wrote of what Jesus told His disciples to do, and in looking at this we see some areas in which we can work to be better disposed.

1. Love God with all your heart, mind, soul, strength. The disciple is set on restoring God to God’s proper place. What helps here? Corporate worship (the Mass) as well as individual (daily quiet time away from technology—Jesus withdrew from time to time to renew His relationship with the Father) — Devotions (e.g., for Lent, the Stations of the Cross), Confession. The gospel for the Friday after Ash Wednesday gave us the three helpful tools of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
2. Love one another. Loving others is a sign of discipleship. “By the love you have for one another all will know you are my disciples” (Jn 13:35). This can bear reflection—what are my relationships like in the church community? Do I greet anyone? What about gossiping about others? Do I care about my brothers and sisters in the community —a phone call or visit when I know that they are ill or when they have been absent for a while?

A part of the command to love involves love of self — am I taking care of myself (nutrition, exercise, and a weaning away from destructive habits e.g., addictions, gossip, anger)?

3. Make disciples. When Jesus called the first disciples, He told them they would be fishers of men. We live our faith and grow in our faith when we share it.

Easter is around the corner. Let us be open to all that God desires to do in us.