Love of Christ impels us to nurture the baptised, bring home the lost souls
I had just given the instructions for an exciting game and could hear the young people shouting and laughing, and having fun.
But there I was outside the room, wondering why I was doing this every week. What was the purpose of doing youth ministry? Was there some ego involved in wanting to have the largest number of Catholic youths involved so they would not be attracted to join the “more interesting” Protestant church?
So what keeps me serving, especially as a disciple-maker?
1. Fear of God.
This is an unpopular expression but entirely biblical. Do we desire to please God knowing that one day you will appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, to receive a reward according to your works? St Paul says that it is this fear of the Lord, that motivates him to persuade others (2 Cor 5: 9-11). Sometimes, we forget that the man who didn’t use his talent to multiply didn’t just get sent to Purgatory for a temporary punishment. Jesus said to “throw this useless servant outside where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth” (Matt 25:30).
Indeed, not getting involved in the Great Commission is setting ourselves against the Lord. Jesus Himself declared bluntly that whoever does not gather with Me, scatters; whoever is not with Me, is against Me (Matt 12:30).
Maybe you may feel quite ungifted or struggle with time to be able to commit as a formal catechist. But even the last servant had one talent. The Great Commission is every Catholic’s vocation, even if it were to just one person. French Carmelite nun St Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897) had her Little Way. Personal disciple-making is what Fellowship of Catholic University Students founder Curtis Martin calls, the Little Way of Evangelisation. Indeed, one person is still more than none.
2. Love of God
For St Paul “the love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all”. Meditating on the Stations of the Cross, we should be so deeply moved, that we should no longer live for ourselves but for Him who for our sake died, and was raised (2 Cor 5:14-15). If we have within us the grace of Christ, His presence should also move us to compassion for the lost. Do you love Jesus? Then feed his sheep (John 21:16).
Sometimes, after a big event, Catholics shrug their shoulders and say, “we can only plant seeds”. Yes, occasional formations have their place as catalysts. But tending the sheep implies long term, not less attention to our newborn spiritual babies. Would you say to a baby, “if he needs further help, he knows where to find us”? Or would you do all you can to nurture him to full maturity? “Grace builds on nature” and if we are a Church that doesn’t care to truly disciple our young, we will continue to see swaths of perpetual spiritual infants, even spiritual deaths. Do you love God and care that His Church is dying?
3. Love for the Church
It is heart-wrenching that while the structures for disciple-making are in the Rites of Initiation, Catholics fumble big time as Godparents, treating these roles rather perfunctorily. Even catechists have earned sharp rebuke that they do not yet have a full conception of catechesis “as a school of faith, an initiation and apprenticeship in the entire Christian life” (General Directory of Catechetics 30). Pope Francis in Joy of the Gospel #173, therefore, declares that the Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment”. If catechesis is the Church’s pipeline to make missionary disciples and it is broken, let’s focus our attention on raising disciple-making Godparents who are effective in apprenticing and accompanying our new brothers and sisters to become Christ.
4. Love for Yourself
You may disqualify yourself as a disciple-maker, saying that you don’t know enough of your Catholic faith. But Pope St John Paul II said, “nobody is so poor he cannot give”. Indeed, as we give, we are challenged to learn more about our faith. Becoming a disciple-maker is not just an act of obedience to the Lord, but an opportunity to grow in faith, hope and love. It truly is to your spiritual benefit.
Which of the above is the most compelling reason to get involved in the Great Commission? Are there any other motivations for you to become a disciple-maker?
