Being Disciples

Gospel: Luke 10: 1-9

If your parish spent lots of money to a "Christian" media empire for a toolkit on discipleship, they overpaid.  In today's Gospel portion Jesus provides the toolkit in just a few sentences, and it is rather simple.  It is the task mission of the disciple to do two things: first, to go from place to place proclaiming peace.  Second, to go and heal others of their infirmities.  That's it.  That's all there is to being a disciple of the Lord Jesus.

In this life of discipleship we are to live simply, not having many possessions, and we are to be mutually supportive, eating at table whatever we are given.  In that table fellowship we provide an image of the presence of God among others, just as the three messengers were to Abraham.  It is this presence that brings peace, healing, and comfort to other people more than any words we may utter.  In fact, it is just this calm presence alone that proclaims peace to others.

Discipleship is not about creating media conglomerates, nor is it found in empire building or political and ideological demagoguery.  It is rather found in these simple things that Jesus himself did: proclaiming peace, healing others, liberating people from their demons, nourishing others at table - all done more through calm presence in a life of humble service rather than in a plethora of words.