As promised, this blog is the follow up to our last one entitled “The Focus of Living Christian Discipleship.” In that message I wanted to paint, in broad strokes, what the Disciple’s focus should be. It was clear that referencing this focus also needed more in-depth description of what that looks like and why we are called to do that.

As we begin, let us remember that our faith is all about a relationship of love. Sin is not the breaking of a rule, but a rejection of a loving relationship with God and others. Eternal life is to be in an intimate (nuptial) relationship with God where we know and give ourselves freely to each other.

Through the gift of Faith, we come to believe in God and all that Jesus reveals about Him. Thus, we accept God’s invitation to enter into this nuptial relationship. Through repentance of our hearts, we enter into the sacred waters of Baptism, where we literally choose to die.

In the Rite of Baptism, during the Blessing of Water, we see the Church’s understanding of what happens in Baptism. “We ask you, Father, with your Son to send the Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who are buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise also with him to newness of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord.”

What we are doing in Baptism is dying to self as we give ourselves to Jesus. When Jesus became man and died for us on the cross, He did not withhold anything from us. His entire life was given to and for us in his profound act of love. In the Sacrament of Marriage, we teach couples that each person must enter the Sacrament with the full intention of giving themselves one hundred percent to each other. 

St. Paul put it this way in his letter to the Galatians (19b-20) “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  NRSV

When a couple gets married, they cease to live as single people, living for themselves. IN this sacrament, they vow to live for the other, recognizing that they are now embarking on a life where they are weaving the threads of their lives together and forming a new fabric (two become one flesh).

So what does this look like practically?

Paul declared his death (crucified) in baptism. He understood that to enter the waters of baptism is to unite his life with Jesus on the Cross. Thus, applying Jesus’ death on the cross to his own life. Do we consider ourselves as dead?  Or are we still striving to live for ourselves and our families?

I know this sounds counter intuitive because love dictates that we live for others. But it is actually the same thing. However, this is one critical area of understanding that we tend to miss. There is a priority to our love. Jesus told us to love Him first, then others. In that order.

This means that His will, as God, takes precedence over my own and the needs of others. Often times, they align quite nicely but there is, in the mind of the disciple of Jesus, a very clear understanding that their lives no longer belong to themselves but to Christ.

That is why St. Paul said  “…the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  To live in the Son is to love FOR the Son. St. Paul now sees the purpose of his life is no longer for his own interests, but for the Kingdom of God.

How do we do this practically?

1. Put on a “new Mind” by taking on a new identity as a Child of God who is truly a part of the family of God. Like St. Paul, we live and work for our brother, Jesus, and our Heavenly Father.
2. This identity affords us all the provisions that our Father promised to give us. We have all we need in God. He will provide everything, physical, medical, spiritual, emotional….   How would my life be different if I truly viewed myself as a legitimate Child of God?
3. Since we need not work to gather our own provisions, we can now focus on building God’s Kingdom on earth. This does not mean we don’t have to work. Rather it means we bring Jesus with us to work and introduce Him to all we know. In what ways are we serving at the Church?
4. Jesus called us to bear fruit that will last, eternal fruit. In what ways are we sowing and reaping eternal fruit? Satan wants us to spend our lives striving for provision of our earthly lives so we make no provision for eternity. What provisions are you making for Heaven? In other words, what are you doing now that will enable you to remain with Jesus in eternity?

This all starts with establishing your relationship with Jesus. Getting to know Him. Striving to obey His word and honor Him with your life. Way too many of us are so committed to worldly things that “we have no time for God.”

But if we truly died, then we need not strive for those worldly things, we need only draw close to our beloved and grow in love with Him. We will grow to love others, and in doing this allow Jesus to love through us!!

Amen.