manupthebook

As parents, we watch our children grow and develop from infancy to the point where they become active, fruitful adults. But God considers us his children. He desires us to grow to be active and fruitful as well. So the question for us is am I growing as a disciple?

As humans, there are five stages of growth which we must all traverse. First we must grow in love, we are loved as infants and we learn to love our parents, family and then community. Then we learn how to communicate, first with our parents and then with others. Then we learn rules so that we are kept safe from harm. Then we grow and are fed, healed and taught to survive. Finally we are sent out into the world to create our own families. These are the stages of growth as humans. They are also the same stages we grow through as disciples.

In our journey to discipleship we touch all five steps. God loves us so much to create us. We learn to communicate with him in prayer. Then we learn the rules to keep us safe. We are fed, healed and given our vocations in the sacraments. Finally we are sent to make more disciples.

With a child, the process is generally sequential. As a disciple it may not be. I learned the faith, received the sacraments and tried to make disciples … with questionable results. It took a while to realize that I didn’t know how to pray. After that I learned I really wasn’t loving others in the way I needed.

We each need to assess. Am I really growing toward discipleship? Am I really learning in all five areas? Do I love God and others the way I should? Do I listen to God when I pray or do I spend most of the time talking? Do I really know the faith? Am I living out my sacramental life? Am I willing to help another person grow as a disciple?

Growing as disciples is about learning to help grow God’s family. As we grow through the five stages, we are preparing to help others grow closer to God. This is what the call to discipleship is all about.