In Matthew 10:5, Jesus tells the disciples to go out and proclaim his message for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. He gives them the authority to drive out impure spirits and heal every disease and sickness with clear instructions of where to go and what to do.
Thus, we have the disciples armed with the necessary requirements to witness the presence of God on Earth. The question is how do modern believers engage in this process of continuing Christ’s mission?
There our three essential factors that guide me in being a disciple of Jesus and sustain my faith journey. They are prayer, the scriptures and being and active member of the Eucharistic community. For me prayer is more than reciting a prayer or asking for God’s help. Don’t get me wrong, I still do both however, I get more from continuing to talk to God throughout the day any place and anytime. It assists me in reflecting on my relationships with others, making decisions on how I should tackle different issues and driving towards outcomes that are successful for others and myself. Most importantly prayer provides me with the hope and optimism I need to continue what I am doing.
The next crucial factor is scripture. I read the Gospel and am inspired by the risks Jesus took to teach all people about who God was and how it is possible for all of us to experience eternal life. The message Jesus delivers for me is one about love and forgiveness. His teachings are inclusive and he invites us all to his Father’s heavenly banquet. However, to gain an invitation I am required to welcome all people and challenge them through my own personal witness, to live the Gospel values and to enable others to achieve their own personal goals. Additionally, I need to demonstrate that I am living the Gospel through my own words and deeds otherwise my witness lacks credibility. Furthermore, it demands that like Jesus who made the ultimate sacrifice, I to must put others before myself to ensure my relationships are positive and rewarding.
The final factor, is to be nourished by a Eucharistic Community. A community where I can contribute to developing people’s faith and in turn together strive to continue Christ’s mission. I am great believer that I can achieve more when I play a role within a community. Nevertheless, it is vital that the Eucharistic Community creates sense of belonging and gives everyone the opportunity to express their faith generating engagement and building community. Moreover, this is only sustainable when everyone is appreciated and acknowledged and valued as a member of the Eucharistic Community.
Hopefully, I continue to cultivate prayer, scripture and being an active member of a Eucharistic Community that enable me to overcome my daily life challenges and inspire me to sustain my faith journey.
