“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’” – John 8:31-32
I have no memory of the day when I was baptized. I was a baby. I received my baptism in the Roman Catholic Church. However, I remember pretty well when I received the Confirmation. That day I decided by myself to become a disciple of Christ. Since that foundational event in my life of faith, I have walked a long way to become a pastor in the United Methodist Church.
Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us that if we are faithful to his word, we will be genuine disciples of him. It implies not just the fulfillment of sacraments of the weekly attendance to the church, but it means to walk with him, to live as he lived; and more, to be faithful means to imitate Jesus because he is the truth. We can know the truth only if we walk with him and like him, namely, if we are in real communion with our Lord.
To know the truth – to be in communion with Jesus – allows us also to know the truth of reality around us as Jesus did. If we are faithful, we can see reality without spiritual blindness, selfishness, and convenience; accordingly, we can act in the world as Jesus did.
This season of Lent is a particular time to reflect and repent of our unfaithfulness and spiritual blindness. We must regret that we try to shape Christ and his Church to our convenience most of the time rather than being true disciples and imitators of him. Our Lord says that if we know the truth, he – the truth – will make us free, free without spiritual blindness, free without selfishness, free to love.
I have walked a long way after accepting to become a disciple, and I want to continue the Jesus’ way, to see reality as it is, and with hope; to act in the world with determination and with love.
Loving Father, thanks for your permanent companion in our daily life. Give us the strength of your Holy Spirit to continue as faithful disciples of your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Johnny Llerena is the pastor of Faison UMC