FOLLOWFOLLOW MEME

THE CALLTHE CALL OF THE DISCIPLE OF THE DISCIPLE

Matthew 9:10-17Matthew 9:10-17

““He got upHe got upand and followed him”followed him”

MATTHEW’S CALLMATTHEW’S CALL

• A longer process?

• Time for reflection

• The final decision

OUR CALLOUR CALL

• BaptismBaptism

• Confession, CommunionConfession, Communion

• ConfirmationConfirmation

• Life VocationLife Vocation

OUR CALLOUR CALL

• Gradual or unexpectedGradual or unexpected

• Stumbling responseStumbling response

APOSTLESAPOSTLES

• Failed to understandFailed to understand

• Sent back to GalileeSent back to Galilee

• Understood after Understood after ResurrectionResurrection

USUS

• The Risen LordThe Risen Lord

works with usworks with us

• Confirms Good NewsConfirms Good News

““Go, make disciples”Go, make disciples”

THE WAY OF LIFETHE WAY OF LIFE OF THE DISCIPLE OF THE DISCIPLE

Luke 10:38-42Luke 10:38-42

““She sat down … and listened”She sat down … and listened”

DISCIPLEDISCIPLE• On the way with JesusOn the way with Jesus

• Not to fret over caresNot to fret over cares

• Build God’s KingdomBuild God’s Kingdom

DISCIPLEDISCIPLE• Hear the Master’s wordHear the Master’s word

• Not Not idleidle contemplation contemplation

• Results in actionResults in action

MARYMARY• Disciple, listeningDisciple, listening

• A womanA woman

• Jesus accepted womenJesus accepted women

FOLLOWER OF CHRISTFOLLOWER OF CHRIST

Hear God’s word

and keep it:

• Listen, Listen,

• then actthen act

MARTHAMARTHAneeds to:

• Listen to God’s WordListen to God’s Word

as well as:

• Serve peopleServe people

• Without complaintWithout complaint

JESUSJESUSdoesn’t contrast:

• Listening / DoingListening / Doing

• Religious life / Lay lifeReligious life / Lay life

• Contemplative / ActiveContemplative / Active

OUR TASKOUR TASKCombine Mary and MarthaCombine Mary and Martha

• Listen and act:Listen and act:

• read the Word of Godread the Word of God

• serve othersserve others

RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS

• Listen to Christ’s WordListen to Christ’s Word

• Do His WorkDo His Work

SECULAR SECULAR FRANCISCANSFRANCISCANS

• Pray:Pray:

• everywhereeverywhere

• at particular timesat particular times

• ActAct

Jesus says:Jesus says: “Follow ME” “Follow ME”

WHYWHY

FOLLOWFOLLOW

SAINTSAINT

FRANCIS?FRANCIS?

EVERY CHRISTIANEVERY CHRISTIAN• is called to follow Jesusis called to follow Jesus

• to live a unique lifeto live a unique life

• authenticallyauthentically

FOLLOW JESUSFOLLOW JESUS• Many waysMany ways

• Many spiritualities:Many spiritualities:

ChristianChristian

CatholicCatholic

• Find your suitable oneFind your suitable one

CATHOLIC FOUNDERSof spiritual families

for example:

• St Benedict of NorciaSt Benedict of Norcia

• St Ignatius LoyolaSt Ignatius Loyola

• St Francis of AssisiSt Francis of Assisi

CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITIESCATHOLIC SPIRITUALITIES

centred on:

• GODGOD: Benedictine: Benedictine

• MANMAN: Jesuit: Jesuit

• GOD-MANGOD-MAN: Franciscan: Franciscan

A SAINT’S SPIRITUALITYA SAINT’S SPIRITUALITY

conditioned by:

• Time and placeTime and place

• God’s giftsGod’s gifts

A SAINT’S RESPONSEA SAINT’S RESPONSETO GODTO GOD

• ImaginingImagining

• SpeakingSpeaking

• ApproachingApproaching

A SAINT’S APPROACHA SAINT’S APPROACHTO GODTO GOD

• pondering

• penetrating

• attracted

OUR CHOICEOUR CHOICENot arbitrary:Not arbitrary:

• personalpersonal• life historylife history

• family influencefamily influence• educationeducation

• reading, studyreading, study

PERSONALPERSONAL• parentsparents

• temperamenttemperament

• giftsgifts

PERSONALPERSONAL• intellectual or affectiveintellectual or affective

• contemplative or activecontemplative or active

• pessimistic or optimisticpessimistic or optimistic

FRANCISCAN FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYSPIRITUALITY

ST FRANCISST FRANCIS• affectiveaffective

• idealistidealist

• optimistoptimist

• practicalpractical

FRANCISCANSFRANCISCANS

• called to follow Christ,called to follow Christ,

• in the footstepsin the footsteps of St Francisof St Francis

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYFRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYpositive, no regrets

• centred on Jesus Christ,centred on Jesus Christ,

• Son of GodSon of God

• our brotherour brother

• our closest friendour closest friendNothing else matters

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYFRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

• centred on Jesus Christ,centred on Jesus Christ,

• Transcendent God the Transcendent God the SonSon

• Incarnate son of GodIncarnate son of God and of Mary the Virginand of Mary the Virgin

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYFRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

THE WAY

• Go to the FatherGo to the Father• by means of the Sonby means of the Son• in the light of the Holy in the light of the Holy

SpiritSpirit

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYFRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

TRINITARIAN

• Transcendent GodTranscendent God

• Source of life and loveSource of life and love

• One God in three PersonsOne God in three Persons

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYFRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

EXPERIENCE GOD

• in three Personsin three Persons

• in the Gospelin the Gospel

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYFRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

IMMANENT GOD

in creationin creation

• CreatorCreator

• ProviderProvider

• SustainerSustainer

FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYFRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY

IMMANENT GOD

• Father and MotherFather and Mother

• Son and brotherSon and brother

• Spouse and friendSpouse and friend

OUR FRANCISCAN OUR FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYSPIRITUALITY

Personal relationship with Jesus Christ:

• BrotherBrother

• SaviourSaviour

• GodGod

leading to the Trinity

OUR FRANCISCAN OUR FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITYSPIRITUALITY

Don’t ape St Francis

• Develop his dispositionsDevelop his dispositions

• Relate to Jesus personallyRelate to Jesus personally

• Be inspired by JesusBe inspired by Jesus

All St Francis tried to do was to be All St Francis tried to do was to be an authentic Christianan authentic Christian

ST FRANCIS INSPIRES US

Don’t follow the Gospel literally,

not only with ideas

• Love Jesus CrucifiedLove Jesus Crucified

• ““he is the one I love”he is the one I love”

ST FRANCIS INSPIRES US

• Hear God’s call, respondHear God’s call, respond

• Walk with Jesus in Walk with Jesus in personperson

• Faith in God who is LoveFaith in God who is Love

ST FRANCIS HEARDST FRANCIS HEARDTHE GOSPELTHE GOSPEL

• Continual conversionContinual conversion

• To Jesus, the SonTo Jesus, the Son

• Obedient to the FatherObedient to the Father

ST FRANCIS OBEYEDST FRANCIS OBEYEDTHE GOSPELTHE GOSPEL

• Lifelong responseLifelong response

• renewed, redirectedrenewed, redirected

• in “school of suffering”in “school of suffering”

MY RESPONSE“Follow me”

• My particular callMy particular call

• My unique responseMy unique response

MY RESPONSEInspired by St Francis

Direct approach to JesusDirect approach to Jesus

• to the Father,to the Father,

• through the Sonthrough the Son

• in the Holy Spiritin the Holy Spirit