Discipleship 101

Second Sunday of Easter
01 May 2011


The Lord has truly risen, alleluia.


First reading Acts 2:42-47 3
The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep impression on everyone.
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.
They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 117:2-4,13-15,22-24

Second reading 1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel John 20:19-31
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:
‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

Reflection
By Herminia Jamandri-Flores

In all college courses, the introduction or the basic principles in all major subjects are coded 101. It gives us a glimpse of everything the course has to offer. The Sunday readings talk about the basics of discipleship, the main characteristics and work of disciples. In the Philippines, May 1 is also celebrated as Feast of St. Joseph the “Anluwage”, the Patron of Workers, which also coincides with the public holiday, Labor Day. It is also a day of rejoicing for the Church because it is the Divine Mercy Sunday.

But how do we see discipleship in the ordinary people with ordinary everyday life?

I was on a jeepney on a Saturday, almost dusk, when four men came up, each holding an old bag with hammer, chisel, saw and an assortment of carpentry tools. They were talking very loud all at the same time. They settled themselves on the available spaces unmindful of the discomfort. They give out an acrid smell of dried sweat mixed with cheap men’s cologne which obviously defiled the sweet scent of young people going out on a weekend spree.

Each one of these carpenters has a story to tell. The one seated beside me counted how many weeks of work more before he gets fully paid the small television he bought for his children. The second one is excited to see his son who is just starting to walk. The third man opted to hang by the bar to give his seat to an old woman. He has the loudest laugh and the nastiest remarks. The oldest who was seated at the back of the driver assisted in the giving of fares and change to passengers who neither said “please” nor “thank you.” He was almost 50 years old and has a pregnant 20 year old wife. He is saving for the birth of the child. “Is it really your child or your neighbor’s?,” asked the third guy, and more laughter. Unmoved by the nasty remark, he said that all he believes is the child is a gift from God.

I was moved by the strength of character they showed. They live simple lives. They don’t care if people recognize them or not. But they are concerned about the people they love and the houses they build, and the help they could give to anyone. They alighted the jeep happily celebrating the joy of seeing their loved ones after a week of stay-in work even with little money at hand and knowing that what they built will last.

St. Joseph must have been like them, burly and brawny, the smell of dried sweat but with lots of stories about Jesus and Mary to boast to his friends. Jesus, in His childhood, must have learned a lot from St. Joseph: how it is to be sincere in helping people, that the motive of work is to serve, and that faith is believing that which we cannot see. These are the basic elements of discipleship as seen from the life of St. Joseph, the worker. These are also the life of the early Christians following the teachings of Jesus.

So, is discipleship difficult? Let’s learn from the Carpenter.

Almighty and Ever Living God, You called people to be disciples of your Beloved Son, Jesus. You entrusted Him to St. Joseph, a model of discipleship. In obedience to Your divine plan, he took care of Jesus and Mary with sincerity of heart and faith in Your Word. He walked every step of the way with Jesus in a lifelong discipleship practiced in everyday life. Through his intercession, help us to live our daily Christian lives in loving service and obedience to Jesus’ teachings, to mature in faith through community life and to look forward to the breaking of the bread as spiritual nourishment. Make us see Jesus in the people we meet everyday so that we may be able to offer our work for Your greater glory through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Next week on God-speak
Planting Little Kisses