CALLED ANEW: OUR COMMISSION TO BE CHRIST'S DISCIPLES

"Then Jesus came to them and said,
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations..."

— Matthew 28:18-19

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Grace and peace to you in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As we reflect on our identity as members of the Body of Christ, we are reminded that our faith is not a private possession to be kept, but a divine commission to be lived. To follow Jesus is not merely to believe in His teachings, but to enter into His life—to think as He thought, love as He loved, and act as He acted. A new beginning in our walk with Christ is fundamentally a recommitment to our primary vocation: being His disciples and bearing witness to His transformative power in the world.

The Call to "Come and See"

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people." (Matthew 4:19)

The call to discipleship begins with an invitation to intimacy. Before we can be sent out, we must be drawn in. A disciple is, by definition, a learner—one who returns daily to the feet of the Master, opening their heart to His instruction through prayer and the study of His Word. Discipleship also requires a shift in priorities, a movement away from asking "What do I want?" toward asking, "Lord, what would You have me do?"

The Commission to "Go and Serve"

"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21)

Once we have been shaped by Christ, we are empowered by Him to be His hands and feet. Our commission is not reserved for the ordained or the eloquent; it is the natural outcome of a life changed by grace. In a divided world, our lives should serve as bridges—we are commissioned to carry the message of hope, forgiveness, and healing to those who have yet to encounter the love of God. We are sent not to distant places alone, but into our homes, our workplaces, and our communities. It is in the mundane tasks of daily life that our discipleship is most tested and our witness most needed.

The Discipline of the Cross

"Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)

Discipleship is a beautiful commitment, but it is not without cost. To follow Christ means choosing humility over pride and service over status, resisting the culture of self that surrounds us. It means persistence in the face of struggle—when the path is difficult, we do not turn back, but lean on the One who carried the cross before us. And it means embracing community as our support, for we do not walk this path alone. We are called to support, encourage, and sharpen one another as we seek to grow into the full stature of Christ.

A Season of Renewed Mission

Dearly beloved, the world is waiting for the authentic witness of Christ's followers. Let this be a moment of renewal—a time to strip away the distractions that keep us from our purpose and to embrace the mission God has entrusted to us.

May the Holy Spirit ignite in you a fresh passion for the Gospel. May your life be a living testimony to the call of Christ, and may you find joy in the privilege of being His disciple, today and all the days of your life.

In Christ's Love,

Rev. Shaimon Elias
Vicar, Madras Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Chetpet

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
— 1 Corinthians 15:58