Christ gives us the freedom to love

July 1, 2007 -- 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By Bishop Robert Morneau

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. What is your understanding of discipleship and evangelization? 2. What does discipleship "cost"? 3. What is the connection between freedom and discipleship?

In early June, 160 campus ministers gathered at the University of Notre Dame to reflect on the call to evangelization and discipleship. For four days they talked, prayed, and shared their experiences of ministry in the Church today. They were about the same work as Elijah and Elisha, St. Paul, and James and John, individuals in today's readings who were called to be deeply involved in the work of God.

Elisha is an example of total commitment. When God called him through the aging Elijah, Elisha held nothing back. He bid his parents good-bye, he slaughtered his oxen, and he used his plowing equipment as fuel for the fire to feed the people. He probably sold his car and TV, took all the money from his IRA and gave it to the poor, and dropped his membership in the local golf club. He left everything and followed Elijah.

St. Paul struggled, as we all do, with the question of freedom. He felt within his bones that eternal wrestling between the spirit and the flesh, between selfishness and selflessness, between giving totally and a grasping acquisitiveness. St. Paul had to leave his old self behind, striving to embrace his new identity as a disciple of Jesus and an evangelist of the good news.

Several weeks ago, the marquee in front of Ascension Lutheran Church in Allouez had this inscription: "Freedom Isn't Free." How true that is. Freedom must be regained every day so that we can fulfill the whole law by being a loving person. But that self-giving love contends with incredible forces that turn us in upon ourselves. St. Paul knew so well that only Christ could set him free. And once freed, St. Paul urged himself and others not to return to our former slavery, the domination of the flesh, i.e., whatever is not God-like. Paul had to learn that freedom was both a grace and a responsibility.

James and John were called to be disciples and they, like Elijah and Elisha, left all to follow in God's way. But that was only the beginning. Discipleship involves a long training session and mistakes would be made. A case in point: what is a disciple's response when one is rejected? For the sons of Thunder, the gut response is destroy the rejecter. James and John would have fire sent down and burn the people. Jesus reprimanded them and, by example, showed them the way of compassion and love.

All evangelization and discipleship is focused on the Kingdom. When one has a vision of the glory of God, God's reign over human history, everything becomes fuel for the divine fire.

At the conference at Notre Dame, the campus ministers gathered to pray and reflect upon God's plan for them and the students they serve. It all came down to being a disciple/evangelist of God's mercy and love. It all came down to a freedom to love as Jesus did.

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Green Bay Diocese and pastor of Resurrection Parish in Allouez.)