Fourteenth week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 6: 1-8; Matthew 10: 24-33
Student and Disciple: Today’s
gospel is the continuation of Jesus’ instruction to his disciples. Jesus tells them,
‘that the disciple is not superior to his teacher.’ The goal of the teacher is to
share with the students all he/she knows, to take them to the depth of learning
and launch them into the ocean of life with all the acquired skills. The joy of the teacher is to see the students grow
leaps and bounds, achieve, discover and invent beyond imagination. Studentship is a part-time and time-bound activity. The
evangelist Matthew does not use the word student, but he carefully chooses to
use the word ‘μαθητὴς –
mathadeis, which means disciple. A disciple is different from a student.
Discipleship is a life-long commitment. The teacher
does not teach the disciple but imparts/transfers the knowledge to the
disciple. A disciple acquires the skills from the teacher with an intention of
continuing the mission of the teacher.
Disciple carries the teacher in the heart: The
disciple is the continuation of the teacher and so he is to carry the teacher
in the heart, consequently, the disciple is not greater than the teacher. The
teacher is his priority. He does not
replace the teacher, but the disciple is teacher in action. The disciple is to
make the teacher continuously alive through his words and deeds. He carries the
teacher in his heart and constantly manifests him. In this process, whatever
happened to Jesus will happen to the disciples as well. As Jesus had to carry
the cross, so also the disciple must carry a cross. Jesus calls us not only to
share his glory but also to share his warfare and suffering.
The Father is in control:
Whatever happens, God, the Father is in control. Hence, to suffer for Jesus is a
privilege to share in the works of Jesus; to sacrifice one’s comfort is to
share in the sacrifices of Jesus. When life gets tough, let us remind ourselves
that we are treading on the path where Jesus trod.
Our Takeaway
1. A Disciple is different from a student. Studentship is a part-time and time-bound activity. Discipleship is a life-long commitment.
For every Christian, following Jesus is a life-long commitment.
2. The disciple is the continuation of the teacher, and so he is to carry the teacher in his heart. Consequently, the disciple is not
greater than the teacher. The teacher is his priority.
3. Discipleship/Christian life is a blessed privilege to
share in the glory and suffering of Jesus, our eternal teacher.
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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