The Cost of Discipleship

Disciples of Jesus abandon their past lives and societal norms to live a life marked by privation and poverty. This choice is justified by their deep commitment to Jesus, whose teachings promise them the kingdom of heaven. Contrary to popular belief, this blessed state isn’t passive but involves an active quest for righteousness and a willingness to endure suffering. These disciples mourn for the world’s state, showing empathy while also detaching from worldly pursuits. Their meekness involves renouncing personal rights and accepting suffering, all anchored in the hope of eternal life and a renewed earth. Although this path results in societal dissonance and even enmity, the ultimate reward is complete fulfillment, as they find solace in the promise of the cross.

Emulating Christ’s virtues of mercy, purity, and peace leads to a life that defies societal norms. Mercy involves sacrificing one’s dignity to alleviate others’ suffering: “If any man falls into disgrace, the merciful will sacrifice their own honour to shield him” (111). A pure heart surrenders completely to Jesus, unburdened by even its own virtues and evils: “The pure heart is pure alike of good and evil, it belongs exclusively to Christ” (112). It’s about relinquishing personal judgments about right or wrong and fully trusting Jesus’s guidance instead.