Discipleship involves letting go, leaving behind, and giving up everything that stands between Jesus and us – following without conditions. It means not knowing where Jesus will lead, or what the consequences will be of following him, and not considering what others will think. Discipleship requires determination – when the going gets tough obedience calls us to stay with Jesus, his church, the people who are fellow disciples with us. Jesus is calling us to encourage and help one another realise what he is calling us to do as his holy people, the church.

Discipleship means nothing less than total and complete obedience to Jesus. Discipleship means we place ourselves at Jesus’ disposal. His plans are our plans; his will is our will; his ways are our ways. Make no mistake about it; Jesus is saying to his followers that becoming a disciple is a radical step, and being a disciple demands radical commitment: ‘If any one of you wants to come with me, you must forget yourself, carry your cross, and follow me.’
In short, when Jesus calls us to discipleship, he is calling us to follow the harder path, to make the harder decisions, to make the tough commitment to carry the cross of being his disciples today in this community. May God’s grace inspire us and his Spirit guide us as we forget ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him.