When we make an initial commitment to follow Jesus (first base), we don’t know where it will lead, but we know that something about Him captivates us. When this happens, we want to know all we can about Jesus. We want to GROW (between first and second base), a stage characterized by time of prayer and study, focused around the Scriptures and Sacraments. Just as we would want to get to know a new friend, we study everything we can about Jesus to get to know Him better.
Immersing ourselves into the community is also very important because the community forms and supports us. Being a part of a weekly small group, while attending Mass on Sunday with the larger community, can be great ways to grow into the disciple Jesus calls us to be. At some point during this GROW stage, we make the commitment to be a life-long disciple of Jesus. In John 6:66–69, Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of everlasting life.” Peter was all in. He committed his entire life to following Jesus (second base).
Once this commitment is made to follow Jesus forever, we need to be equipped for the mission. We used this word EQUIP because there needs to be intentionality in the way we prepare for this mission. We need to learn how to discern which persons we will invest in as friends in order to walk around the bases with them. We need to learn to use our God-given gifts in the greatest way possible.
Through discipline, we learn to sharpen our skills for evangelization (see Hebrews 12:1–13). At some point, we make the commitment to be a disciple-maker, to share with others what we have learned and experienced. We then begin to GO. (see John 20:21) This does not mean that we don’t do any evangelizing until we reach third base; it means that we are ready to branch out on our own. I like the apprenticeship model used in the trades. Think about walking with an apprentice around the bases as they learn the trade of evangelization: 1) I do; you watch. 2) I do; you help. 3) You do; I help. And, finally, 4) You do; I watch.
MISSIONARY DISCIPLE
As we begin as a missionary disciple, we are equipped to make friends with the intention of eventually introducing our friends to Jesus. In Cursillo (www.jolietcursillo.org), an apostolic movement that leads Catholics to discover and better live the basic teachings of Jesus, they have a motto: “Make a friend, be a friend, and bring that friend to Christ.”
That is basically what a missionary disciple does. We are friends with Jesus. We befriend others. We introduce our friends to Jesus. Friendship is the basis by which the faith has been handed down through the centuries. St. Paul writes, “With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well, so dearly beloved had you become to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8) Through this friendship, we walk with people through the five thresholds of conversion by Sherry Weddell (trust, curiosity, openness, seeking, intentional discipleship). As we walk with these friends in faith, it is important at some point to ask them if they are ready to make a commitment to follow Jesus. We might say, “Will you follow Jesus with me?”
Once your friend commits to following Jesus, then you can start to help them grow. In Acts 2:42, we hear that the early Christian community “devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” Like the early Apostles, we can focus on the teaching (catechesis), community (both small group and larger community), Sacramental life (especially Eucharist and Reconciliation) and prayer (Lectio Divina and other prayer forms) with our friends. At some point, we ask them to make the commitment to be life-long disciples with us (second base). Then we begin to EQUIP them with the vision to live the method of Jesus — to be missionary disciples.
The greatest evangelizer of all time, St. Paul, says, “And He gave some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11–12) We can help them see how God might be calling them to use their gifts.
To sum up, we cannot give what we don’t have. Jesus calls all of us to “Go and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19–20) I think we have many disciples, those who are intentional followers of Jesus. We need to teach people how to actively make other disciples. This is the big culture shift needed in the Church. This model is simple and manageable, but it requires our time and intention, which is a definite challenge. Imagine what will happen in our diocese, in our country and in our world, if we start to increase the number of missionary disciples! Come, Holy Spirit, come!