This is why he not only exhorted the disciples to listen to him, but to watch him! Making disciples always involves both “Show and Tell!”

If we are to take Jesus’ charge to make disciples seriously, then we must first BE AN EXAMPLE of what we want others to emulate. A good coach doesn’t stop at lecturing the team about the fundamentals of the sport. No, he or she demonstrates the skills and invites the members of the team to imitate exactly what they see him or her do. It is precisely by seeing the message put into practice by the teacher (rabbi, minister, priest, bishop, parent or catechist) that the disciple is won over by the one giving the instruction.

Since what we DO as church is minister to others (in a variety of ways) then it is imperative that when we do it, we are CONSCIOUS OF THE CHARGE that Christ gave us. In short, every ministry in the parish exists to carry out Christ’s command to make disciples. No other goal can supersede it, replace it, or take priority over it.

Therefore, the purpose of our school, our social justice and health ministries, our liturgy, our choirs, our fundraising, our concerts, our front office, our staff, our pastoral and finance councils, our book store, our religious education and sacramental preparation, our celebration of the sacraments, our praying the rosary, our physical plant, and even our parties and celebrations ~ ALL exist to further our efforts to do what Christ commanded us to do: Increase the numbers of those who know and love him ~ and will follow in his footsteps. Only then will we be disciples who have earned the right to be imitated.