Our mission statement starts with a presumption: we, the people of our parishes, are already disciples of Christ. What are we saying?
“Disciple” is a relational term. It implies the existence of another. When one is a husband, it implies the existence of a wife; when one is a mother, it implies the existence of a child. When one is a disciple, what is implied? The existence of a master, a teacher.
Disciples lived with their master. They imitated the way he lived, studied the lessons he taught, and followed the commandments he gave so that they could take on the master’s way of life. “No disciple is above his teacher, no slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, for the slave that he become like his master.” (Mt 10:24-25)
In our mission statement we profess that we are disciples of Christ and He is our master, our teacher. Through this intimate relationship with Jesus Christ we follow and emulate His teaching, follow His commandments and strive to become more like Him as model for others to follow. None of us does it perfectly, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t his disciples. We remember that, “ ... when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40).
Jesus told us to go and make disciples as he knew that was how the Good News would be spread to all the nations.