Missionary DiscipleshipSampl

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by,

he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They

said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to

them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they

stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.

He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is

translated Anointed). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are

Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow

me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael

and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the

prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything

good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:35-46

Twice in this story of his first encounter with some of his key disciples, Jesus issues the

invitation: “Come and see.” Each disciple must come and see for himself or herself. Discipleship

always begins with a personal encounter with Jesus. A life of Christian discipleship cannot be

built on knowing about Jesus, it must be built on knowing Jesus himself.

Evangelism always includes an invitation. It does not merely give information about God’s love, Jesus‘

death and resurrection, our sin, or our need to return to God. Evangelism invites us to encounter

Jesus personally. This encounter occurs whenever a humble heart cries out to our loving God in

the name of Jesus. It can involve a prayer of surrender or commitment, a faith-filled

participation in a sacrament, or an arresting act of compassion. Encountering Jesus changes our

lives. It sets us on a new path. It is the first step in a journey of missionary discipleship.

“The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept

his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness….I invite all

Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus

Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them.” Pope Francis, Evangelii

Gaudium, 1,3.