Climbing the Mountain of Discipleship: Embracing the Radical Call of Jesus

In today’s reflection, I want to invite you to journey with me into one of the most challenging teachings of Jesus—a teaching that, at first glance, seems almost impossible to accept. It’s a passage that jars us, especially when we hear it in the context of our families, our politics, and our everyday lives. Yet, it is precisely in this discomfort that we find the heart of true discipleship.

Let’s break open this teaching together, drawing on the wisdom of the Gospels, the mystical tradition of the Church, and the lived experience of our community. My hope is that, by the end, you’ll not only understand the depth of Jesus’ call but also feel equipped to respond with courage and love.

1. Jesus’ Counterintuitive Invitation: Beyond Political Rhetoric

I’ll be honest: my interest in politics is only marginally greater than my interest in sports—which isn’t saying much! But even with my limited engagement, it’s clear that Jesus’ approach would be a political disaster. Imagine a candidate standing up and saying, “Vote for me, and you’ll suffer. Vote for me, and you’ll lose money. Vote for me, and you’ll end up hating everyone important in your life.” No party—Labour or otherwise—would survive such a campaign.

Yet, this is the radical invitation Jesus extends. He’s not interested in popularity or clever slogans. He’s not offering us comfort or convenience. Instead, he calls us to something far deeper: a total reordering of our lives around God.

Key Insight:

• Jesus’ message is not about winning votes or pleasing crowds. It’s about truth, transformation, and the cost of real discipleship.

Actionable Advice:

• When you encounter a difficult teaching in the Gospel, resist the urge to water it down. Instead, ask: “What is Jesus really inviting me to here? What does this reveal about the kind of relationship he wants with me?”

2. The Everest of Discipleship: Total Commitment Required

To help us grasp the magnitude of Jesus’ call, I often use the image of climbing Mount Everest. I’ve never climbed a mountain myself, but I know enough to realise it’s not a casual stroll. It demands months—if not years—of preparation, training, and sacrifice. The journey is perilous, the risks are real, and the summit is only reached by those willing to give everything.

Discipleship is like that.

• It’s not a comfortable walk along a well-marked path.
• It’s a grueling ascent that demands our whole selves.

Practical Steps for the Journey:

• Assess your readiness: What are you willing to give up to follow Jesus more closely?
• Prepare spiritually: Just as climbers train their bodies, we must train our hearts through prayer, Scripture, and the sacraments.
• Find companions: No one climbs Everest alone. Seek out fellow disciples who will encourage and challenge you.

3. Reordering Our Loves: The True Meaning of “Hating” Family

One of the most difficult lines in the Gospel is when Jesus says we must “hate” our father, mother, spouse, children, and even our own life to be his disciple. On Father’s Day, this can sound especially harsh. But Jesus is not advocating literal hatred. He’s using a common Semitic expression—a way of saying that our love for God must be so great, so all-consuming, that every other love is secondary by comparison.

What does this look like in practice?

• God at the centre: Every relationship, every ambition, every possession must be oriented around our love for God.
• Freedom from attachments: If anything—no matter how good—takes priority over God, it becomes an obstacle to true discipleship.

Reflection Questions:

• Are there relationships or ambitions in my life that compete with my love for God?
• How can I honour my family and friends while keeping God as my first love?

4. Taking Up the Cross: Embracing the Cost of Discipleship

Today, the cross is often a decorative symbol. But in Jesus’ time, it was an instrument of torture and shame. When Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow me,” he’s not inviting us to a life of comfort. He’s calling us to embrace suffering, sacrifice, and even rejection for the sake of the Gospel.

What does it mean to take up our cross?

• Accepting hardship: Discipleship will cost us—sometimes our reputation, sometimes our comfort, sometimes our very lives.
• Choosing faithfulness over convenience: We are called to stand with Jesus, even when it’s unpopular or difficult.

Practical Applications:

• When faced with a difficult choice, ask: “What would faithfulness to Jesus look like here?”
• Remember that the cross is not the end. It is the path to resurrection and new life.

5. Letting Go of Possessions: The Path to True Freedom

Jesus also says we must be willing to give up all our possessions. This isn’t just about material wealth. It’s about anything that holds us back from loving God fully—our ambitions, our comforts, our need for control.

Saint John of the Cross, in his classic work The Ascent of Mount Carmel, teaches:

• True freedom comes from detachment.
• We must habitually desire to imitate Christ, bringing every aspect of our lives into conformity with his.

How do we cultivate this detachment?

• Regular self-examination: What am I clinging to that I need to release?
• Acts of generosity: Give freely of your time, talent, and treasure.
• Trust in God’s providence: Believe that God will provide what you truly need.

6. Imitating Christ: The Habitual Desire for Holiness

Saint John of the Cross summarises the spiritual journey with this advice:

“Have an habitual desire to imitate Jesus Christ in all that you do by bringing your life into conformity with his.”

This is not a one-time decision. It’s a daily, even hourly, choice to let Jesus shape our thoughts, desires, and actions.

How do we grow in this habitual desire?

• Immerse yourself in the Gospels: Let the words and actions of Jesus become the pattern for your life.
• Deepen your prayer life: Spend time each day in silence, listening for the voice of the Lord.
• Seek transformation: Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your mind and heart, so that you begin to see the world as Jesus does.

7. The Parish Mission: Climbing Together

Our mission as a parish is to help one another climb this mountain of discipleship. We are not meant to make this journey alone. Together, we can encourage, support, and challenge each other to keep moving upward, even when the path is steep.

Ways to support each other:

• Small groups: Join or start a group where you can share your struggles and victories.
• Service: Find ways to serve together, putting love into action.
• Prayer: Pray for and with one another, especially in times of difficulty.

Conclusion: The Summit Awaits

Jesus’ call to discipleship is radical, demanding, and utterly transformative. It asks us to reorder our loves, take up our cross, and let go of all that hinders our relationship with God. This is not a political strategy or a casual invitation. It is a profound spiritual journey—a journey that leads to the summit of union with God, where true freedom and love are found.

Let us, as a parish community, embrace this call with courage and joy. Let us help one another climb the mountain, trusting that the view from the top—the vision of God’s love—will be worth every step.

Further Reading and Resources:

• The Ascent of Mount Carmel by Saint John of the Cross
• The Gospel of Luke, especially chapters 9 and 14
• Parish small groups and discipleship resources (ask at your parish office)

Let’s keep climbing together. The summit awaits.