There are many organisations in the world today which help make it easier for Christians to help others in a more involved way. For example Trocaíre allow people to raise money by doing a sponsored Twenty-Four Hour Fast. This allows us to see on a small scale what hunger is suffered in some places. Concern also does a similar program. Priests and voluntary workers go even further by offering their own hands-on services. They often go out to the country and help build schools, hospitals and drill wells. The society in which we live today is very materialistic and people are often judged by how wealthy or poor they are. Through our teachings on discipleship, Christians today should not judge people. Only God has the right to judge. James and John asked Jesus if they could sit to the left and right side of him on his throne in the Kingdom of God. When the other ten disciples heard about this, they were angry so Jesus told them:
“If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest”
This means that in order to be accepted into the Kingdom of God, you must help and serve others when they need your help or assistance.
Another way in which Christians help others is by praying for them. Prayer is a very important element for Christians in today’s society. There are many ways in which people pray. Some people pray in their head, some pray aloud, some pray alone and some pray as part of a group. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus prays many times. He prayed to get the evil spirit out of the boy (because only prayer could drive that sort out), he prayed for God to bless the bread and wine at the Last Supper and he prayed to God, his Father in Gethsemane. These all differ in event. In One Jesus is giving thanks for the meal in front of him and his disciples, in another he is driving out an evil spirit and in the other he is simply talking to his Father. These are all other ways in which people pray today. Prayer allows us to keep in touch with God. It is a form of worship.
The Religious Orders dedicate their whole lives to worshipping God in every way they can. By their actions and spreading the Good News, they are continuing Jesus’ Mission. For most Christians today, Sunday is their day of worship. Many Christians make it a rule to go to church every or most Sundays. Private prayer and Bible reading are important parts of worship. At mass on Sunday, Christians meet to do this together as a community. At the Last Supper, Jesus said the words:
“Do this in memory of me”
This is why Christians today receive communion in the same way as Jesus’ twelve disciples did. Christians receive it after the priest says the words which Jesus said that night.
We are taught by this teaching about Discipleship that we must show love and forgiveness. We can show love by helping others and by showing support to those who need it. The second most important commandment is:
“Love your neighbour as you love yourself”
We must also show forgiveness and practice reconciliation. Jesus forgave Peter for denying him three times. We know this because when Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome went to anoint the body of Jesus, they were greeted by a young man dressed in white who said:
“Do not be alarmed, I know you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth,
who was crucified. He is not here – he has been raised!
Look, here is the place where they put him. Now go and give this
message to his disciples, including Peter…”
Jesus forgave Peter even though he denied knowing him three times. We should be able to forgive most things if Jesus could forgive that.
The Commission still applies to Christians today. The sacrifices are the same. We just need to be committed and show a bit of selflessness in our day-to-day lives. The love of God is for everyone and we need to spread this through our words and actions.