Friends and Disciples

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us of two aspects of discipleship. The disciple follows the lead of the master. The “New Commandment” is to love. The Master loves all without condition. The disciple will find this difficult. The disciple will present a challenge to some. This challenge may evoke responses of anger and even violence. Of course, the “light” that the disciple radiates is the life that maintains faithfulness to the first commandment even in the experience of the second aspect of discipleship. The Resurrection Mass for Rev. Basil Carew will be celebrated today in Halifax. “Father Bas” radiated that “light”. He made the effort to follow the “New Commandment” and lived many experiences of “giving all” that the disciple is given by the Master. He has completed the race.