TO BE A DISCIPLE

January 20, 2018

TO BE A DISCIPLE.

 

In the liturgy of this Sunday we see the prophet Jonah and the first four disciples of Jesus responding to the calling of God to be disciples.

The fact that we are baptized does not make us automatically “disciples”. It takes a conscious decision to move out of our comfort zone and follow Jesus. “Come and see; I will make you fishers of men!” One has to move toward a goal, which is to see and know personally the Lord Jesus. One cannot be a disciple if he does not have this experience of a personal relationship with the Lord. Then one has to move! There must be a change in attitude and place. Basically one has to see his/her life as a continual journey with Jesus. At a later date Jesus will send them out to become “fishers of men”.

What do I have to do in order to become a disciple? First we have to know personally Jesus. If I do not visit with Him at least once a day, then I cannot say that I have a personal relationship. If I do not feel the deep desire to know Him and love Him, then I do not have a personal relationship. If I am not ready to give him my time and my talents, His relationship does not mean much to me. Finally, if I am not ready to go out into the field to bring the good news, then I am not a real disciple. Is Jesus calling you to be His disciple?

 

CHRISTIAN UNITY

From January 18 to January 25 the Church celebrates the OCTAVE OF PRAYER for Christian Unity. “Father, that they may be ONE!” This is the last wish of Jesus, before returning to heaven. Our Pope Francis is working very hard, reaching out to our Christian brothers, so that Jesus’ wish may come true. The Pope said that even if we still have a lot of differences, nothing stops us from PRAYING TOGETHER with our orthodox or Christian brothers and sisters.

Why don’t you visit an orthodox or protestant church and say a prayer to Jesus so that we all may be ONE some day soon?

About Fr. Walter

Father Walter Tonelotto was born in Italy in 1947 and entered the Scalabrini Seminary at an early age. At 20 he was sent by his superiors to study Theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, New York and then to the Toronto School of Theology. He holds a Master in Divinity from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa and a Master in Moral Theology from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University, New York City.