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| The Our Father: Lent 2012 Retreat |
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Reflections on: Women Disciples of Jesus
Part 1: What is a Disciple?
An Online Retreat prepared by Women at the Well Ministry, St. Paul, Minnesota
Eleanor Lincoln, CSJ and Catherine Litecky, CSJ
Courtesy of Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ
“Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women ...who provided for them out of their resources.”(Luke 8: 1a, 3b)
If someone asks you, “Are you a disciple of Jesus?” what would you say?
We may hesitate to think of ourselves as disciples because we probably limit our association of the word “disciple” exclusively with the followers of Jesus in the gospel. They were indeed the first disciples. But all faithful Christians are called to be disciples of Jesus!
Each of us begins to be a disciple through baptism, our first encounter in faith with Jesus Christ. If we have matured in our understanding of Christian faith through instruction and good example, we are disciples whether we are conscious of it or not. If we live the life of Christ by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, fighting for justice and peace, we are worthy disciples in deed. Simply put, a true disciple is someone completely open to Jesus' invitation to be his follower. What a challenging invitation!
In the gospels an encounter with Jesus of Nazareth, for every disciple, was an unexpected turning point which profoundly touched his or her deepest self. We too have such encounters whenever we meet Jesus in the gospel or in our daily life. Like Mary, the first and greatest disciple of Jesus, each disciple, including each one of us witnesses to and wonders at the mystery of God becoming human in Jesus.
We read in the New Testament the stories of Jesus and his disciples which came from the gospel writers who were members of the Christian community living in the light of the resurrection of Jesus. All of the disciples, after they were called by Jesus, came to believe in him and love him, but it took time for these ordinary human beings to learn what it truly meant to follow Jesus. Like us, they often misunderstood him and disappointed him (and themselves).
Jesus' disciples in the gospel were not perfect human beings. Peter failed to watch with Jesus in his agony in the garden and later denied knowing him. Judas betrayed him. Some of the disciples argued among themselves as to who among them was the greatest. James and John sought for places of honor. None of them, except the beloved disciple, watched with Jesus on the cross. They were slow to believe in his resurrection; Thomas doubted him to his face.
But in spite of everything the disciples continued to love and follow Jesus. Remember the “breakfast picnic” on the shore after the resurrection when Jesus so tactfully gave Peter the chance to proclaim his love anew by responding three times, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (John 21:15).
Spend a few moments to reflect in silence about what you have just read. Then ask yourself about how you are living as a disciple:
How are you journeying with Jesus at the present time?
How are you witnessing to and proclaiming Jesus through the way you live your life each day?
How are you helping others to know and love Jesus?
We read about many disciples, men and women, in the gospels. The women disciples who followed Jesus have not received as much attention as the men disciples although the women's stories are very important to early Christianity. We can say with assurance that these women did not betray or deny Jesus. They remained faithful to him throughout his earthly life. They are models of faith and love for all of us today.
We disciples of the 21st century, like the women disciples of Jesus' day, can encounter Jesus, listen to him, observe his loving actions toward everyone. We too can journey with him in our daily life, help bring his love to others, give witness to him, and share his message with others. By reflecting on the wonderful stories of women disciples of Jesus, we can become more aware of how Jesus touches our own lives.
As disciples, we are called to believe and to love. We would not choose to make this online retreat if we did not desire to be faithful disciples who love God and follow Jesus and his Way. The Way was what the early Christians called their way of living out what Jesus had called them to. So we too are people of the Way, on the way.
What leads you at this point in your life to want make this retreat? How will you fit this retreat into your everyday life? How do you hope this retreat will help you to grow spiritually?
As women and men following in the way of Christ, we are the church. Throughout our lives as faithful Christian disciples we move toward transformation in Christ. What can lead us to this transformation?
1. We can deepen our relationship with a loving God through living with the consciousness of God as the center of our life, through being aware of God's unconditional love for us; through being attuned to the beauty and goodness of creation as well as being concerned about what still needs to be transformed in ourselves and in our world.
2. We can increase our own self-understanding and self-knowledge by listening to ourselves, our bodies, our emotions our imaginations; through keeping a spiritual journal as an on-going way of reflecting on our life journey; by such a simple practice as a morning and evening question to ourselves (Morning: What one thing can I do today that will make a difference in God's world? Evening: What has been most life-giving to me today?)
3. We can call others to discover their own gifts and talents to they may participate in ministry with us.
4. We can have a loving awareness of all that is around us in creation.
Take a few moments for prayerful reflection on what is leading you toward transformation to help you grow in your life as a disciple of Jesus.
This retreat looks at some women disciples who followed Jesus. They are strong, faith-filled women who confidently acclaim Jesus, publicly profess their faith, and serve others, always in intimate loving relationship with Jesus. We can ask these questions about each of them. How and where does she encounter Jesus? How does she come to believe? How does she show her love? What can her experience with Jesus say to us about our discipleship?
“O, loving God, grant that we may be inspired by the example of
Mary of Nazareth who gave her word;
Martha of Bethany who declared her faith in Jesus;
Mary of Bethany who poured out her love;
the woman of Samaria who questioned and responded to Jesus;
Mary of Magdala who told the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”;
women disciples who served the early Christian community.
Be with us now as we value and live out our own discipleship in our troubled world. Breathe into us your Holy Spirit so that we may be faithful and loving disciples of the twenty-first century. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Now turn to Part 2: Mary of Nazareth, Mother and Disciple of Jesus
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