Are you a follower of Jesus? How do you become a follower of Jesus? Fr. Gerhard Lofink says “there is no New Testament noun for followers of Jesus.”
The word used is disciple. Disciple means student; and to be a disciple means that you are under the tutelage of a teacher. Jews had many opportunities to find a teacher, yet when a teacher was chosen the student pledged fidelity to the teacher.
Disciples learned to see the world, and to hear words through the eyes and ears of the teacher. The teacher was a life mentor to the disciple.
In the New Testament we have some incidents in which a student seeks Jesus as a mentor. The inquiry is meant to provide the student with an understanding of this teacher and thus help the student make a choice.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment?” This is the question of a would-be disciple.
Often one Jew would ask another “Who is your rabbi?” Through whose eyes do you see the world; through whose ears do you hear the word? One finds identity by who is one’s rabbi.
We are called to be disciples of Jesus. We are called to take Jesus as our rabbi. We are called to see the world through Jesus’ eyes; to hear the word through Jesus’ ears.
If I see the world through the eyes of Jesus, I agree to suspend my judgment. In facing a situation, the disciple asks “What does Jesus see?” In light of the answer the disciple takes action.
Who is your rabbi?
Father Steve Adrian
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