Discipleship of Jesus, a Call to Contemplate and to Act

Fr. Francis Scaria

A disciple is one who acts after contemplating and one who contemplates after acting. In John 20:11-18. Jesus tells Mary “Do not cling to me…. But go and find the brothers, and tell them”. This admonition echoes what happened at the mountain of transfiguration. The disciples wanted to remain on the mountain. So much so, Peter said, “Let’s make three tents….”. But Jesus wanted them to go down to be with the people. We are not to remain on the mountain of contemplation neglecting action. Jesus wanted his disciples to contemplate God’s ways and act according to God’s plans. Hence they had to discern the will of God in contemplation and act. There is a tendency to neglect contemplation like Martha who “was worried and troubled about many things”. She had a temptation of excessive activity leaving no space reflection. Jesus would lead his disciples to lonely places and mountain tops after a day of intense activity for the ‘rest’ their souls so much required.