Today is the Second Sunday after the Feastday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The Gospel for this Sunday (Luke 5:1-11), the First Sunday of Luke, is a challenging lesson which tells about Jesus’ call of the disciples, as an act that is always contemporary.
We must understand that the same Jesus lives today and continues to call disciples: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”. As the Risen Lord, He is enthroned next to the Father and from His throne of glory rules over all. He also rules over the Church. He lives in our midst by the power of the Holy Spirit. He lives close to us as Lord, friend and companion. He calls old disciples to new challenges and new disciples to thrilling horizons.
God gives Himself to us totally in Christ, so also He wants us to give ourselves totally to Him! Everything that we have, think, decide, say and do must be viewed with Christ’s eyes: This is the secret of authentic Christian discipleship by which we find ourselves working with Christ in deep spiritual waters.
We are never strong enough by ourselves to take up the Christian discipleship. Christ strengthens us in our weaknesses and once we make the decision to take our discipleship seriously then the disciple lives by the principle of loving Christ above anyone else and by carrying his or her own cross.
This is the essence of this gospel and our discipleship in Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
