51.Sunday- 2nd week - Ordinary Time After Christmas : 1 Corinthians 1 discipleship journey

Theological framework of  discipleship journey : 

A baptized Catholic is not a coincidence. Regardless of the circumstances, being baptized signifies that you have a calling.

A baptized Catholic has a call to fellowship from their mother’s womb; their response decides the result: either inheritance of God or the world.  Inheritance from God is not merely a future reward but a present journey of discipleship leading to union with Christ.

Isaiah 49:1 Before birth the LORD called me, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.2 He made my mouth like a sharp-edged sword, concealed me, shielded by his hand. He made me a sharpened arrow, in his quiver he hid me. 4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, for nothing and for naught spent my strength, Yet my right is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. 3 He said to me, You are my servant, in you, Israel, I show my glory. 5 For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! 6 It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Trajectory of the Christian life : Theological framework of  discipleship journey : 

Proclamation results in faith. Faith leads to calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and results in a call to fellowship and access to grace through baptism. Grace leads to sanctification. Sanctification leads to holiness, which results in peace. And holiness leads to confirmation of testimony to Christ and leads to revelation, which in turn leads to communion.

Theological Framework  acts as an interpretive lens for perception, shaping a raw data of reflection from soul, imagination of heart and thought of brain  into a, judgment, or, decision, which is often termed a "pastoral" or "contextual" conclusion  or theological object  that leads to express truth. 

Luke 10: 1 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two disciples.

21 Father, you have revealed them to the childlike.

22 Only those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him know the Father.

23 Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see."

19 Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’

On the day of our Lord Jesus , is the visitation of the lord, we need to vigilante like 10 wise virgins.

Divine preservation : God promises to strengthen and secure believers, making them blameless and free from accusation at Jesus' return, not through their own perfection, but through Christ's righteousness, assuring their eternal salvation and encouraging faithful living now.

Grace enriches the believer with true wisdom to comprehend the testimony to Christ originating from within, confirming it with thoughts, words and actions, and leading to revelation and communion.

In appearance and by worldly standards, a Catholic may seem insignificant in their own eyes and to others, but there is a mighty reality underneath: the LORD has anointed you with heavenly citizenship.(Philippians 3:20) Catholic citizenship has its own privileges and moral obligations.

The framework of Catholic customs and practices is rooted in the conviction that the Church is built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone.(Ephesians 2:20-22). Matthew 16:18 Jesus building his church upon Peter.

Luke 22:19 shows Jesus instituting the Eucharist. Matthew 28:19 gives the command to baptize and make disciples. John 20:23 describes the authority to forgive sins. Luke 4:18-19 and Matthew 5:17 indicate Jesus fulfilling the prophets and the law. 1 Timothy 3:15 identifies the Church as the pillar and foundation of truth. Luke 10:16 states that listening to the apostles is listening to Jesus. 

Catholic traditions are designed to live out the teachings handed down from Jesus and the Apostles. The Magisterium is the Catholic Church's teaching authority, vested in the Pope and bishops in communion with him, tasked with authentically interpreting Scripture and Tradition, ensuring teachings remain faithful to the "Deposit of Faith," and guiding the faithful. It serves the Word of God, teaching infallibly on matters of faith and morals when defining doctrine definitively, acting as Christ's voice on Earth through ordinary preaching, catechisms, and solemn pronouncements

1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle 

2  who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 Thanks to my God  for the grace of God bestowed on you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in him you were enriched in every way, with all in him you were enriched in every way, with all discourse and all knowledge, 6 as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, , 6 as the testimony to Christ was confirmed among you, 7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus .9 God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

There are five fundamental stages to a discipleship journey. There will be fierce fight with evil forces in each stage.

The simplest method to progress through all stages of growth in the Kingdom of Heaven and enjoy the Fruits of each stage is by reciting four Rosaries each day and reflecting on all the mysteries of Christ and Mary. Christusway daily missal reflections can assist Catholics in effectively using the Rosary to develop an integrity that aligns with remaining in Christ and helps to attain the death of the righteous—a peaceful, blessed, and hopeful death.

 

Stage 1: Align with actual grace by receiving daily blessings in the physical realm by living a fundamental Catholic life. This alignment will help to realize the  the call to participate in the next stage.

Stage 2: Live a life to justify 'The Call' : Self purification in the Physical Realm by engaging with  Sanctifying Grace.

Next Stage, the reign of sanctifying grace begins once you have built an unbroken habit of praying four Rosaries daily for years. 

Stage 3: Chosen for Purgation, with sanctifying grace facilitating the purification process.

Stage 4: Illumination at spiritual realm :  Inner person growing and outer person decreasing.

Stage 5: Union, where grace is demonstrated through actions as results.

 

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