Catechumenate Topic: Discipleship

Catechumenate Topic: Discipleship

What is a disciple?

Mankind’s true vocation, what we are all called to, is to live a life of love in communion with the Trinity. To know God, to love God, and to serve God, and be happy with Him forever, this is the meaning of life.

God created man in his own image, the image of god who is love. Man is lovable because God loves man, and no other reason.

Man is the only creature on earth that God created for himself. The only create created to love as God loves.

It is the human will that can choose to love, the intellect that can explore the divine revelation and truth. This will and intellect have become damaged through sin. Through the Christ’s passion and our baptism we are given life in Christ and healed. This grace allows us to use our will and intellect as God first intended them.

Called to love, how ought we behave? God gives us the answer in the beatitudes.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they shall be satisfied.Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad,for your reward is great in heaven.

The result of living in this manner, is joy.

Man is free to follow God, and no man can place in slavery to sin, only you can place yourself in slavery to sin.

This freedom does not necessarily translate to rights. Just because Christ has freed us from sin, does not mean we have the right to say or do whatever we want.

Basic morality. Good intentions do not make a bad act good, however bad intentions do make a good act bad. Circumstance cannot make an act good or bad, but they may lessen our responsibility.

One may not do evil so that good may come of it. Even a good act done for bad reasons is wrong.

Emotions should not govern reason and the will. Emotions are not good or bad, because they are allowed to exist or even commanded to exist.

Virtues are good behaviors that the will orders our actions towards.

The Intellectual Virtues are:
Art
Prudence

The Moral Virtues are:
Justice
Temperance
Fortitude

The Theological Virtues are:
Faith
Hope
Charity or Love

Christ came with a mission to build the kingdom of God here on earth. We are baptized into His mission. Our missionary actions are indispensable components of being a Christian. You cannot be a Christian and not work to build the kingdom, through caring for others, proclaiming the gospel, working for justice and an end to evil acts. This work however is secondary, not primary. Our primary responsibility is to love God, and then to serve our neighbor. First Christ tell his disciples “Come, Follow Me”, then later once they are converted and have received the spirit “Go, and make disciples of all nations.”