The call to follow Jesus is a constant, transcendent imperative that exists across time and contexts. While Jesus no longer physically walks the Earth, his call resonates through the Church’s ministry of the Word and sacrament. Hearing and heeding this call isn’t a matter of historical or situational relativism; it’s an ever-present choice for or against Jesus Christ. The critical issue isn’t how Jesus’s call might vary for different people or different times but that the essence of the call remains the same. Thus, comparing oneself to biblical figures like the paralytic or the disciples is beside the point; the key is to listen and respond to Jesus’s command as it speaks to one today through scriptural testimony. Recognizing Jesus as the living Lord clarifies his will for individual lives, as his call is designed to evoke wholehearted faith and love for God and neighbor. The call to discipleship is just as accessible now, especially given the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The concept of baptism serves as a metaphor for the transformative experience of accepting Christ’s call to discipleship. Contrary to viewing baptism as an offering from humans to God, it is actually an invitation extended by Christ to humanity.