Dear Friend,
In this fortnight’s newsletter, we are invited to reflect on one of the most demanding and life-giving themes in the Gospel: what it truly means to follow Jesus.
Across this edition, our writers explore discipleship not as a vague ideal, but as a radical invitation—one that asks for loyalty, courage, and a willingness to place Christ at the centre of our lives.
Bishop David Walker, in Loyalty, the Cross, and the Cost of Discipleship, reflects on the uncompromising call of the Gospel and the challenge of choosing Jesus above every other attachment. Virginia Ryan continues this theme in Discipleship, opening up the deeper meaning of following Christ with trust, perseverance, and a heart willing to be transformed.
Thomas offers a reflection on Matthew 10:37–42 in The Conditions of Discipleship, drawing out the searching words of Jesus and their relevance for our lives today. His article invites us to consider what it means to live with a faith that is wholehearted, courageous, and grounded in love.
Dr Laurie Woods, in his reflection for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A, helps us enter more deeply into the Sunday Gospel and the wider scriptural vision that underpins this call to discipleship.
Together, these articles challenge us to ask difficult but essential questions: What comes first in my life? What does loyalty to Christ really ask of me? And how can I live the Gospel more faithfully in the ordinary circumstances of each day?
May these reflections encourage you to listen more deeply to the voice of Christ, to trust him more fully, and to walk with renewed courage in the path of discipleship.
As always, we invite you to share this newsletter with family, friends, and members of your community.
Every blessing,
The Lectio Divina Team
