Although this reflection has focused on seminary formation, configuration to Christ is not reserved for seminarians or priests. It is the vocation of every baptized Christian.
Through Baptism, every believer is united with Christ and begins the lifelong journey of being transformed into his likeness. Whether one is a husband or wife, parent, teacher, student, religious, or priest, the Christian life is a process of allowing Christ to shape one’s thoughts, words, decisions, and relationships.
The difference lies not in the goal but in the vocation. Every Christian is called to be configured to Christ. Seminarians undergo a structured process of formation because they are preparing for a particular mission in the Church. If ordained, they will be sacramentally configured to Christ the Head and Shepherd for the service of God’s people. Yet this sacramental configuration builds upon a lifelong process that begins in Baptism and belongs to all the faithful.
This means that the movement from discipleship to configuration is the journey of every Christian.
At first, we learn to follow Jesus. We listen to his word, imitate his example, and strive to live according to the Gospel. Gradually, as we cooperate with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Christ becomes visible in us. Our love reflects his love. Our mercy reflects his mercy. Our forgiveness reflects his forgiveness. We become, in the words of Saint Paul, people in whom “Christ is formed.”
The world does not need Christians who merely know about Jesus. It needs Christians whose lives reveal Jesus.
That is the heart of Christian discipleship. We begin by following the Master. By the grace of God, we increasingly reflect the Master.
Leave a Reply