A core criterion of authentic discipleship

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

THOSE words that Christ told his disciples about what it is to be an authentic disciple of his must have shocked them.

“Amen I say to you, there is no man who has left house or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who shall not receive an hundred times as much in this time: houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the life to come life everlasting.” (Mk 10,29-30)

With these words, we are practically told that an authentic disciple should prioritize Christ above all earthly affections and securities, as echoed in similar teachings of his about self-denial and cross-bearing. (cfr. Mt 16,24)

These words are like a test to see if one values the Kingdom of God over natural bonds, which can sometimes hinder divine service and dedication. They are not meant to nullify the value of our natural bonds here on earth but rather to put them in their proper place, not allowing them to undermine one’s discipleship to Christ.

Christ, being God, who commanded us to love our parents and the things of this world in accordance to his will, could not contradict himself by telling us to abandon absolutely our parents and temporal affairs. What is meant is that we should give priority to Christ first, without neglecting our duties toward our natural bonds.

These words of Christ that describe how an authentic disciple should be is like a test of a disciple’s sincerity, probing if we are willing to detach from earthly things for Christ’s sake.

We definitely need to learn how to give ourselves totally to God and to the others, since we cannot deny that we have a strong tendency to put some strings attached whenever we have to give something to the others.

We have to make an effort, always asking, of course, for the grace of God first of all, so that we can learn to assume this attitude with respect to our self-giving. In the end, this will make us to be like Christ who gave himself totally to us, including giving his life for our sins.

Let’s remember what he told his disciples once: “Freely you have received, freely you have to give.” (Mt 10,8) Gratuitousness should characterize our self-giving to God and to others, just as gratuitousness characterizes God’s love for us. Such gratuitousness will actually gain us much more than what we give away.

In this regard, we have to do some continuing battle against our unavoidable tendency to be calculating in our self-giving. Not only do we have to contend with our personal weaknesses in this regard. We also have to contend with a tremendous cultural environment, so prevalent these days, that not only is not conducive to this attitude of Christian generosity but is also hostile to it.

We constantly have to rectify our intentions when we have to give ourselves to God and to others—be it things, a service, or matter of attention and affection. This is especially so when our giving is for God. Let’s never forget that God cannot be outdone in generosity.

We should always be encouraged to give ourselves to God and to others gratuitously without strings attached, without conditions. Even if instead of being reciprocated properly and requited, our love is misunderstood and rejected, we just have to go on loving. The only reason for loving is because that is what true love is. It is this love that is the real essence of God, of whom we are his image and likeness.

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com