In the past two weekends the Gospel of Luke has spoken to us in depth about what Christ’s meaning of “Discipleship” comprises. Luke has given us “discipleship” from Christ, our Lord’s perspective, from the very beginning of our faith and Church, not from a modern or interpreted perspective.

Two weeks ago we heard the account of the Good Samaritan and the two questions which arise from that story—which are meant not only for the early Disciples of Christ to consider but also for us today: (1) “How do I inherit Eternal Life and (2) “Who is my neighbor”? Christ’s answers: (1) do what is righteous, and (2) any brother or sister in need.

For Christ, our faith is a lived faith; it must have life, breathe and action to it. We are called to take the Truths of Christ—doing the righteous thing, which is the Will of God—and take it with us into the world through our lived faith. Inheriting eternal life means to become Christ in the world. To take what we have been given in faith and Believe it, Live it, and Share it with the world around us. We must feed the hungry for it is righteous. We must care for the sick, for it is righteous. We must establish peace and justice in our families and communities, for it is righteous. We must teach the ignorant the Truths of Christ, for it is righteous. And we must forgive wrongs and offenses against us, for it is righteous.

For Christ, our neighbor is not someone who is geographically local. A neighbor is not connected to us by blood or relationship, nor is one connected to us by shared similarities—race, religion, politics or national origin. For Christ, a neighbor is simply human, a creation of God. For if we believe that all are created in the Image and Likeness of the Divine—and we believe we are—then how can one “cross the street and walk past” someone in need? The Church, created and instituted by Christ, provides us on earth the conduit to become a Believer, a Liver and a Sharer of Faith, to actively put our beliefs into motion and to transform not only our own hearts but also the world around us in which we live. For that is righteous.

One week ago, in Luke’s Gospel where sisters Martha and Mary are at odds, the author shows us that Christ is concerned not so much with what we are doing for Him, but rather that we are concerned with what Christ is doing for us. Martha busies herself with preparing a dinner and getting things ready to serve her guests and the Lord. Mary sits at Christ’s feet and listens to the Word of God, hearing and believing that which wants to do for us. Christ declares that what Mary is doing—learning and understanding the wisdom of God—is more important that Martha’s activities of being anxious and busy. You see it is not so much the “doing” that counts but it is the
transformation of the heart and person that our Lord is concerned (the feeding of the hungry, the teaching of the ignorant, the caring for the sick while vital in this earthly life are truly more about the transformation of our hearts and minds—so that our “good deeds” are less about an act of kindness done here or there, at Christmas time or during Lent, and more about creating a way of life for the Christian disciple)—Transformation.

This week, Luke’s Gospel speaks to us about prayer and the greatest gift of all, the Holy Spirit. It is in prayer and being prayerful that we will come to know God’s Will for us and we then will live the life God has hoped for us. In prayer, we must be persistent. In prayer, it is O.K. to ask—for we shall receive. And in a prayerful way of life, we must give and support, like a good parent does, assistance or guidance to someone even when that support may seem difficult for the receiver. For if we truly love, like our Father loves us, then our hope in the end is that our loved ones (all of us) become the most excellent person they can be—the image and likeness of God.

This is where the gifts of the Holy Spirit come in. Our Father, who wishes to give us all that we need, sends His Holy Spirit into our lives so that we will be guided to all Truths and so come to Him through Truth and living a righteous way of life.

We are called to be persistent in prayer. To constantly have dialogue with the Lord so that we listen to Him speak to us in the silence of our hearts. Sometimes when the Lord answers our prayers we may not understand what He is saying to us or we may not recognize an answer—since it might not be what we intend Him to do or to give to us. But prayer is not some personal form of us lobbying the Lord. God is immutable and we cannot change Him. We cannot educate the Lord to a better way of thinking or a more modern or updated “take” on an absolute truth. Truth does not change, what was true in AD 33 is true today. What changes is our interpretation through the cultural winds of the day—powered by convenience.

So what good is prayer if not to change the Lord to our will? Prayer enables us to listen to and to understand God. To transform our hearts to receive the Eternal Truths of Wisdom (God) and to come to understand how and why the Lord desires this given outcome in life for us. For in the end, when earth and all the material collectables of life come to naught, the One, Lasting Gift is Eternal Life: to share forever in the Divine Life of God, to know all Wisdom, to feel all Love, and to experience all Joy forever. Indeed, that is Righteous!