HAVE YOU SEEN ME?

THE MODERN
DISCIPLE
What are the "requirements" to be a
Disciple?

Module 1 Unit 2: I respond to jesus' invitation of

Friendship
 WHAT IS A DISCIPLE?

DISCIPLESHIP IS A WORD THAT WE HEAR FREQUENTLY AS CATHOLICS BUT

MANY OF US MAY STILL WONDER, "WHAT EXACTLY IS A DISCIPLE?" A
DISCIPLE IS SOMEONE WHO FOLLOWS AND SPENDS TIME WITH A SPECIFIC
TEACHER. DURING THIS TIME, THE DISCIPLE LEARNS FROM THE TEACHER

THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP IS SO MUCH MORE THAN ACQUIRING

KNOWLEDGE FROM THE TEACHER; IT'S ABOUT ACTING AND LIVING A
LIFE LIKE THE TEACHER DOES. SO, WHEN CHRIST, THE GREATEST OF
TEACHERS INVITES US TO FOLLOW HIM AND BECOME HIS
DISCIPLES, HE IS ACTUALLY INVITING US TO BECOME LIKE HIM.

THE 3 STANDARDS IDENTIFIED IN MARK 8:34 BY JESUS ARE THE FOUNDATION

TO BECOMING A GOOD DISCIPLE/FRIEND OF JESUS. IT HELPS US UNDERSTAND
THAT DISCIPLESHIP IS MORE THAN JUST BEING A FOLLOWER OF JESUS. LET
US NOW DIVE DEEPER TO THE MEANING OF THESE 3 STANDARDS.

Will you accept his invitation?

“DENY ONESELF” (THE FOCUS IS
ON GOD NOT ON ONESELF)
THE FIRST VERB IS “DENY,” AND

WHAT JESUS CALLS US TO
DENY IS OUR SELVES, MEANING ESPECIALLY OUR SINFUL SELVES,
WITH ALL OUR SELFISH DESIRES THAT ARE SIMPLY FOCUSED
ON US.

THE GREEK VERB “TO DENY” (ARNEOMAI) IS A STRONG WORD

OF NEGATION THAT MEANS TO FORGET ONESELF ENTIRELY AND
REJECT ANY THOUGHT OF DOING WHAT WILL PLEASE
OURSELVES RATHER THAN GOD.

THIS MEANS SAYING NO TO SIN, NO TO UNGODLY ATTITUDES,

NO TO UNHEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS, NO TO SELF-INDULGENT
ACQUISITIONS, NO TO THINGS THAT WASTE OUR TIME, AND NO
TO PHYSICAL PLEASURES THAT SAP OUR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH.

What are the things that are currently draining your time? Does it
help you be closer to God? Does it make you a better person?
 INSTEAD OF GRATIFYING
OURSELVES OR INDULGING
OURSELVES IN ALL THE
WAYS OUR SINFUL NATURE
DESIRES, WE ARE CALLED TO
DENY OURSELVES, REJECTING
ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING
THAT WILL GET IN THE WAY
OF OFFERING OURSELVES FOR
GOD’S SERVICE.
(EX. CHEATING IS A SINFUL
ACT; TO GET A GOOD GRADE
IS A WAY OF GRATIFYING

ONESELF, ANOTHER IS
BULLYING; TO FEEL GOOD
ABOUT ONESELF WE
DEGRADE OR CALL OTHERS
NAMES)

What are the things that are currently draining your time? Does it
help you be closer to God? Does it make you a better person?
 “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS”
(EMBRACING HARDSHIPS AND
STRUGGLES FOR THE SAKE OF
CHRIST)
CROSS-BEARING IS SOMETHING THAT GOES WELL
BEYOND THE ORDINARY TRIALS OF DAILY LIFE. WHEN
JESUS SPEAKS ABOUT THE CROSS, WE BEAR FOR
HIM, HE SAYS THAT IT MUST BE PART OF OUR
EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE. “IF YOU WANT TO BE MY
DISCIPLE,” HE SAYS, “TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY.”

What do you do whenever you are dealing with difficulties? When you
struggle? Do you just give up? How do you fight through it? Take
inspiration from Jesus' experience, he embraced it and trusted in God.
 IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING IN
CHINESE, DO NOT GIVE UP,
EMBRACE IT FOR THE SAKE OF
CHRIST, IF YOUR FAMILY IS
DEALING WITH A LOT OF
ISSUES OR MAYBE
STRUGGLING AS OF THE
MOMENT, EMBRACE IT FOR
THE SAKE OF CHRIST AND
BELIEVE THAT AT THE END OF
THE DAY, HE WILL HELP YOU.
THEN YOUR CROSS BECOMES
LIGHTER.

LEARN TO OFFER YOUR

STRUGGLES TO GOD AND
TRUST THAT HE WILL BE WITH
YOU IN THIS EXPERIENCE.

What do you do whenever you are dealing with difficulties? When you
struggle? Do you just give up? How do you fight through it? Take
inspiration from Jesus' experience, he embraced it and trusted in God.
 “FOLLOW ME”

TO FOLLOW JESUS ULTIMATELY MEANS HE

SHOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY. IT MEANS IN
EVERY ACTION WE MAKE, WE TAKE INTO
CONSIDERATION WHAT GOD/JESUS WOULD
WANT FOR US.

What are your top priorities right now? What are the things you consier
whenever you are about to decide on something? Does it include God?
Do you ask your self, what woudl Jesus want me to do?
 WHENEVER WE ARE DECIDING ON SOMETHING, WE
MUST ASK OURSELVES, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
WHENEVER WE ARE IN SITUATIONS WHERE WE DO
NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE ASK OURSELVES
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? TO FOLLOW JESUS IS
TO BE LIKE HIM IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE, TO
FOLLOW JESUS IS TO BE AN ALTER-CHRISTUS
(ANOTHER CHRIST) TO OTHER PEOPLE ESPECIALLY
TO THOSE CONSIDERED LEAST, LOST AND LAST BY
OUR SOCIETY.

What are your top priorities right now? What are the things you consier
whenever you are about to decide on something? Does it include God?
Do you ask your self, what woudl Jesus want me to do?