Having reflected on the various elements of the first sentence of our diocesan and parish mission statement, the following sentence is added to sum up the mission:
Accordingly, the community of Catholic faithful in this Diocese is committed to the discipleship and stewardship way of life as commanded by Christ Our Savior and as revealed by Sacred Scripture and Tradition.
What catches my attention in this sentence is the use of the phrase “way of life.” Discipleship and stewardship is not meant to be a program or an initiative with a beginning and an ending. Rather, it is intended to be a way of life that guides us in all of our thoughts, words, and actions. Being a disciple and a steward is not something just for Mass on Sunday, but our entire lives are meant to be ordered to following Jesus and living according to His teachings, those revealed in both Sacred Scripture and Tradition.
It is important to come back to a fundamental point as it relates to our Catholic faith, namely that being a disciple is not first and foremost about observing rules. Rather, Christianity is about being in relationship with a person, Jesus Christ. We can see this in the account of the call of the Twelve as recounted in the Gospel of Mark:
He went up the mountain and summoned those whom He wanted and they came to Him. He appointed twelve [whom He also named apostles] that they might be with Him and He might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. (Mk 3:13-15)
Before sending them out, Jesus called the Apostles to “be with Him.” This indicates the desire that Jesus has to first be a friend with us by our spending time with Him, especially in prayer, worship, and learning about Him. From that closeness with Him, we come to know Him and love Him, as we discover just how much He loves us. Then, from that place of friendship and awareness of that depth of His love, we willingly and joyfully go out, letting our lives be lived in union with Him and according to His will in everything.
There is a quote that I often think about when considering the call to make following Jesus more than just an occasional activity, but truly a way of life. It is often attributed to the former Superior General of the Jesuits, Fathe Pedro Arrupe, SJ. Perhaps I have used this quote before, but it is worth sharing again, as it speaks so beautifully about the call to make discipleship and stewardship a way of life:
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in Love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.
Father Alford