A disciple is someone who follows Jesus: who hears his call, responds to it, and keeps learning from him for the rest of their life. The word comes from the Greek mathētēs, meaning a learner or follower, but in the Gospels a disciple is far more than a student. A disciple lives in relationship with Jesus and lets that relationship change how they live.
What Do We Mean by "Disciple"?
When Jesus called Peter from his fishing boat, the call to follow and the call to be sent came in the same breath: "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men" (Lk 5:10). Peter didn't yet understand who Jesus was. He left his nets and followed anyway. As Sherry Weddell puts it, "From the moment he dropped his nets to follow Jesus, he was a disciple" (Forming Intentional Disciples, 64).
At its core, discipleship is an active response to a relationship with Jesus. It happens on purpose. Weddell again: "You don't do [discipleship] accidentally; you don't do it in your sleep."
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Mk 1:17)
Maybe you already follow Jesus. You may be more of a disciple than you think. Many faithful Catholics count themselves out because they picture a disciple as someone who has already arrived.
Maybe you're not sure yet. That's an honest place to begin. Jesus called people with doubts, questions, and complicated pasts, and he still does.
“A disciple is someone who seeks to enter more deeply into his relationship with Christ, and lead others into their own relationship with him." Fr. Sean Pogue
Isn't Discipleship Only for the Super Holy?
Not at all, though this is a common misconception. Most Christians acknowledge the weaknesses of their faith and inconsistencies of their lifestyles and therefore wrongly assume that they are only "normal" Christians who will never attain the level of a disciple.
"We must be convinced that all the baptized - unless they die early or are incapable of making such a decision - will eventually be called to make a personal choice to live as a disciple of Jesus Christ in the midst of his Church."
Forming Intentional Disciples, 70.
The reality is that every single one of us has been called to discipleship. It's not just for the super holy, it's not just for the saints.
Often the people most convinced they aren't disciples are already living as one. We've written about how that picture keeps people from recognizing what God is already doing in them.
"Through our Baptism, we become witnesses to the Gospel and disciples of Christ."
Disciples Called to Witness, USCCB
How Do I Become a Disciple?
Discipleship starts with Jesus, not with us. He takes the first step. Our part is to respond, to say yes to his invitation and keep saying yes.
That response usually grows in several ways at once: hearing the Gospel clearly enough to know what he is inviting us into, recognizing where he has already been at work in our lives, walking with people who can help us take a next step, and learning to listen for where he is leading.
Jesus doesn't wait until we've finished growing to send us. Peter was sent while he was still learning, and so are we. Along the way, God reveals the gifts he has given each of us for the sake of others, and our vocation, whether marriage, priesthood, or consecrated life, becomes one of the places we live out his mission.
"This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (Jn 13:35)
Where to Go From Here
If you want to take a next step yourself, the Discipleship Check-In offers questions to help you pray about where you are and where Jesus may be inviting you next.
If you lead a parish, school, or diocese, Forming Missionary Disciples explores what it takes to help others follow Jesus and be sent. And if you've wondered how an apostle differs from a disciple, we've written about that too.
