One of my favorite lines of Jesus in the popular series “The Chosen” is when he looks at his puzzled disciples and says, “Get used to different.” He has dinner with sinners; asks a tax collector to follow him; and speaks with foreigners disdained by his disciples due to ancestral feuds. Not only are they told to love their enemies, Jesus tells them to go to extremes in showing forgiveness: “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times” (Mt 18:22). In other words, forgive them — truly and perfectly.
What Jesus was teaching and demonstrating to his small group of disciples was a new experience. When confronted by a leper, our Lord stays put and heals the man’s sickness. Jesus is different not only in pity, mercy and healing powers, but he also takes a practical approach in dealing with sickness. He follows the procedures of the law to make sure this man is reunited to the greater community through the judgment of a priest. Our Lord wills that this man be healed — at the request of the leper himself — and tells him to gain approval, giving him the opportunity to flourish once again in society. So, this supernatural act of healing helps the man naturally and legally get back into society.
Yes, the leper needs physical healing. But our Lord knows he needs more than a cure for his affliction. He needs to be made whole — physically, spiritually and practically — so he can get back into his community and thrive. Back to his family, back to his friends, back to his place of worship, back to his work — his community. And not remain an outcast. Naturally the first small group community he needs is made up of those closest to him — his family and friends.
Jesus was part of the holiest of families — his first small group. Fast forward through the hidden years and it was time for Jesus to form other small groups. After being baptized by John and tempted in the desert, he selected his own small group of disciples and went on a three-year mission. He taught with his remarkable knowledge, shared parables and lessons while healing people physically and spiritually — and pressed on with his salvific message of faith, hope and love to the world. It started with a small group, a community of disciples who no doubt wondered why they were chosen. They were ordinary men, not scribes or scholars of the law. They were commoners in a small group who were chosen to make a difference in the lives of others by living and passing on that same salvific message.
The Apostles were called to make a difference in a fallen world by being different. Their teacher would teach and show them how to respond perfectly in various situations to help and heal others in need physically and spiritually. Most important, they were chosen to pass on the message of salvation, to build God’s kingdom. The message is timeless.
Catholic Watchmen know this by their discipline of building fellowship and evangelizing men in monthly parish gatherings that often break off into small groups of six to eight men that meet weekly. These small group activities are simply being obedient — in lockstep with Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s direction to cultivate small group ministries in every parish as a top priority this year. Why? Because through his own experiences and evaluating numerous listening sessions connected to the Archdiocesan Synod, he believes small groups can transform and grow our parishes. Small group parish communities may very well be something different for many in his flock. Yet small groups can truly make a difference in helping this flock flourish as disciples for Jesus — parish by parish.
Through reading the Scriptures, by listening to our shepherds, and embracing parish-led small-group apostolates, Jesus continues to tell us, “Come, and you will see.” All of us are called to respond to this invitation to make a difference as disciples. Entering a greater community of believers through developing and enhancing small group communities can help create that difference.
In joining, we do not have to knock on household doors. After a while we may find friends or family members to reach out to. Bringing others to Jesus may not seem so different over time. We can start by joining a small group. For those already in one — great! We can invite someone in and ask the Holy Spirit to go to work for and within us. That is how small group communities gain more disciples for Jesus!
Deacon Bird ministers to St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville and assists with the archdiocesan Catholic Watchmen movement. See heroicmen.com for existing tools supported by the archdiocese to enrich parish apostolates for ministry to men. For Watchmen start-up materials or any other questions regarding ministry to men, contact him at gordonbird@rocketmail.com.
