The 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A
The second part of our gospel reading today from the Holy Gospel of Saint Matthew 4:12-23 tells us the story of the call of the first four disciples of Christ, Peter and Andrew, James and John. Of course when these four disciples were called, they didn’t know what they were getting themselves into, but they still all answered the call to discipleship and followed Jesus. So what does it mean to be a disciple of Christ and who is a disciple of Christ? What does discipleship mean?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a disciple of Christ as one who not only keeps the faith and lives on it, but also professes it, confidently bears witness to it, and spreads it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1816). Hence, Discipleship is the call to keep and deepen our faith in God, live out that faith, profess it, confidently bear witness to it and spread it in the world. From these definition, we can tell that it is not easy being a disciple of Christ or answering the call to discipleship. Why? Because it is very obvious that being a disciple of Christ or answering the call to discipleship requires total commitment and service.
The actions of Peter and Andrew, James and John in our gospel reading today teaches us how to answer the call to discipleship. How did they answer the call to discipleship? They answered the call to discipleship in two ways, by saying "Yes" to Christ and by following Him. So what does saying "Yes" to Christ mean? Saying "Yes" to Christ means committing ourselves to keep and deepen our faith in God. When these first four disciples were called by Jesus, they answered the call by saying “Yes” and left everything to follow Him. Saying "Yes" and leaving everything behind to follow Jesus shows their commitment in being His disciples. Ask yourself today my dear friend, have I truly answered "Yes" to God in my call to discipleship? Have I wholeheartedly given up everything and left everything behind to follow Jesus like Peter, Andrew, James and John? Am I truly committed in being a disciple of Christ?
Also Peter and Andrew, James and John answered the call to discipleship by leaving everything to follow Christ. Following Christ here means being of service to Him by living out His gospel, professing our faith in Him, bearing witness to Him and spreading His gospel in the world. Ask yourself, how have I being of service to God as a disciple of Christ? How have I lived out His gospel, professed my faith in Him, bore witness to Him and spread His gospel in the world today?
Since the call to discipleship requires Commitment and Service to God, what do we have to do to stay committed to God and to be of Service to Him? Commitment and Service to God entails listening to Him; believing in Him; accepting His Word; professing His Word and living out His Word.
So my dear brothers and sisters, let us pray in today’s Eucharistic celebration for the grace to truly and sincerely answer our call to discipleship like Peter, Andrew, James and John with a spirit of commitment and service to God, by constantly deepening our faith in God when we listen to and believe in His Word; by professing our Faith in Him; by confidently living out our faith and bearing witness to it daily in our lives; and lastly, by spreading it in the world. Amen!
