Many people who come to faith ask this very question, and it’s a beautiful one. To want to follow Jesus means your heart is already responding to His call. It’s not just about knowing His teachings, but allowing them to transform how we live, love, and see the world each day.
To follow Jesus begins with a relationship. When He first called His disciples, He didn’t hand them a rulebook—He simply said, “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). They didn’t yet understand everything, but they trusted Him enough to walk beside Him. In the same way, our journey starts when we invite Christ to walk with us — in our joys, our struggles, our work, our relationships.
Prayer is where that friendship grows. When you speak with Jesus from your heart — in the quiet of the morning, while driving, or before sleep — you’re walking with Him. It doesn’t have to be perfect words. Sometimes it’s simply saying, “Lord, be with me.” In that moment, your heart turns toward His presence.
To follow Jesus also means to live His way — to love as He loved. Every act of patience, every time we forgive, every kindness we show to someone in need, becomes a step in His footsteps. In the Gospel, He says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). That means discipleship is not measured by how much we know, but by how much we love.
When we choose honesty over convenience, when we bless instead of curse, when we listen instead of judge — we bring His light into the ordinary moments of life. Following Jesus doesn’t always mean doing great things; it often means doing small things with great love.
We also follow Jesus by trusting Him — especially when life feels uncertain. He carried the Cross before us, and now walks with us through every cross we bear. When we choose hope instead of despair, when we surrender our fears to Him, we follow the road He walked to resurrection.
The Church helps us along the way — through the sacraments, through Scripture, through the community of believers who remind us that we’re not alone. Every Mass, every prayer of thanksgiving, every moment of repentance is another “yes” to His invitation, “Come, follow me.”
To follow Jesus daily is not about being perfect; it’s about walking with Him faithfully. Let your life whisper the words your heart believes: “Lord, I am Yours.”
May every step you take today be a step closer to His heart.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
