Dynamics of Discipleship

Anchored by believing and remaining, there are four basic movements by which a person becomes and lives as a disciple of Jesus. First, the disciple begins to believe through some form of witness. The forms of witness include but are not limited to a prophetic sign, the word of another, the Scriptures, and inspiration from the Father. She then encounters Jesus in a personal way, either physically, as during Jesus ’ earthly life, or after His Ascension into heaven, through the Spirit at work in the world. This personal encounter grounds and solidifies the disciple’ s belief. Then, empowered by Jesus, the new disciple must choose to remain with Him, particularly through the suffering which inevitably comes (John 15:5; 9:34–38; 16:33). This is a mutual remaining that changes the focus of the disciple’ s life. Now her first priority is her relationship with Jesus (John 6:56–57; 15:5). The disciple lives and acts not from her own power but from the power of Jesus, with the Father and the Spirit (John 14:1–3, 16–17; 15). Her true discipleship bears the fruit of practical love, which has the effect of building up the Church and witnessing to other potential believers (John 8:31; 13:34–35; 15:16–17). Said another way, the basic dynamic of each person ’ s growth in discipleship goes something like this, with believing and remaining in Jesus at the core of our journey:

1. I begin to believe because someone gives witness to me. In other words, someone tells me who Jesus is and how a relationship with Him makes a practical difference in his own life. 2. I have a personal encounter with Jesus, which solidifies that belief. I literally meet Jesus. As He walked upon the earth, people met Him physically. Now, we meet Him through the Holy

Spirit whom He has sent. We encounter Him as we pray, in our neighbor, as we read the Scriptures, and especially in the

Eucharist.