Grace – Discipleship – Mission
“As one grows in a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, our hearts foster a deeper desire to be part of Christ’s mission.”
Darrin Nelson, Vibrant Parish Life Ministries
I encourage you to take a moment with this short formation reflection on the role that God’s grace plays in our lives and how it guides us along our journey of discipleship and mission. As Sherry Weddell states in her book Forming Intentional Disciples, “Grace empowers our intellects and wills to understand God’s will and obey it, yet at the same time it leaves us free to resist if we choose. (pg 98)” In the Gospels, we can read about the crowds and townspeople who would go and see Jesus. Some would choose to ignore his invitation to be encountered by the ‘Good News’ and not allow themselves to be transformed by the grace of his mercy and healing. As we have learned in many discussions about ‘Cultural Catholics’ there is a lack of a personal encounter with the ‘Good News’ and real presence of Jesus Christ which inhibits their own ongoing opportunity to be transformed by God’s grace. Saint John Paul II said “still without any explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ, they only have the capacity to believe placed within them by Baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit.” As disciples of Christ, our missionary role is to share the ‘Good News’ and be able to personal witness to the effect of God’s grace in our own response to his invitation. Our witness helps others to discover the possible relevance of the Good News for their own lives.
Quote from Sherry Weddell’s book Forming Intentional Disciples, Chp 4 ‘Grace and the Great Quest’ pg 98.
“Grace…fruit of God acting upon us and a free supernatural gift of God to help us attain eternal life…Grace empowers our intellects and wills to understand God’s will and obey it [Faith], yet at the same time it leaves us free to resist if we choose.”
Saint John Paul II quote, Catechesi Tradendae, 19
“Still without any explicit personal attachment to Jesus Christ, they only have the capacity to believe placed within them by Baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit.”
Reflect for a moment:
Why is this quote from Saint John Paul II so important for us to personally discern for ourselves and for the sake of other Catholics as we grow in Discipleship and Evangelization?
Quote from Sherry Weddell’s book Forming Intentional Disciples, Chp 4 ‘Grace and the Great Quest’ pg 98.
We become awaken once again to the Grace of our faith when an individual sees it as a “personal faith, repents and chooses to follow Jesus Christ as a disciple.” FID pg 121
What are your thoughts about this statement?