The Call of the Disciple

“As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.” (Matthew 9:9)

“‘Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19-20)

“Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

These are just three cases from the Gospels of when Christ called others to follow Him. Notice, He doesn’t call us to work for Him, or to listen to Him, or come watch Him. Of course, those are all part of following Christ, but His call is so much more than that. 

It’s a call to go where He goes and do what He does. And, this is the challenge of the Chrisitan disciple, because following Christ isn’t easy. It’s not just saying that you believe in Him or showing your face once a week at Church. It’s living a life following in His footsteps. And, that means following Him to the Cross. 

“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

On a Pints With Aquinas episode, Sister Mary Madeline Todd once made the point that Christ does not call us to take up our pillows and follow Him. We have to take up our crosses, as painful as that might be. That was the call to the disciples, and it remains the call to each of us.