“At that time the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit.”

By our baptism we too are appointed disciples and sent out. What does this mean and what must we do?

The quote ‘You don’t become a car just because you spend a lot of time in the garage’ leads me to think that we don’t become a disciple just by being in church. Much more is asked of us: we are called to develop a personal relationship with God. This relationship can be influenced by the books we read, the people we talk with, the liturgical rituals we participate in…but it can only become a personal relationship by spending time alone with God, open to the Holy Spirit. Only then can we move from knowing about God to knowing God. We need to ask for the grace to grow closer to God and for the courage and strength to follow God’s promptings.

Maybe we were baptized a long time ago and maybe we completed our formal faith formation way in the past, but that is just the beginning of our spiritual journey. As teenagers and adults we should continue to read, talk about and ponder the scriptures so that our understanding and relationship with God can change and deepen. Participating in the Liturgy, focusing on the words of the prayers and hymns can assist us in our journey….but it is only a part.

Perhaps this week we can ask ourselves a few questions:
How can I become a more dedicated disciple?
Do I spend time deepening my relationship with God?

Ten minutes of quiet time in the morning and ten minutes at night can help us develop a deeper relationship with God and a more active discipleship.

Are you ready and willing to take that challenge this week?