One of the questions that Jesus, the great judge, will ask us is who have we accompanied in Faith and what kind of example have we been as followers of Christ. It is critical that we as a Church and as individuals commit ourselves to bringing people to Jesus Christ. We do this by following the example of Jesus’ accompaniment. Jesus taught the disciples and apostles, and he accompanied them for three years. These apostles and disciples have given us a powerful example of what it means to make disciples and baptize all nations.   

What does accompaniment look like? The story of Ananias in the Acts of the Apostles is an excellent example of accompaniment.

There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and [in a vision] he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay [his] hands on him, that he may regain his sight.”  But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.”  Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. (Acts 9:10-19)

Ananias is called by our Lord to accompany Saul in his conversion. Through the help of Ananias, and Saul’s own curiosity, Saul recognizes God’s hand in his life. When the scales fall from Saul’s eyes, he is able to truly see and begin to seek the Lord. He learns from Ananias what it means to know and serve Jesus with a loving heart. With the accompaniment of Ananias and the faith community, Saul is able to witness to Jesus with total abandon. We know Saul as St. Paul – a true disciple-maker, a missionary disciple. We are blessed to have his letters preserved for us in Holy Scripture so that we too, like St. Paul, may hear and answer the call of Jesus to make disciples and accompany others.

Just as St. Paul needed Ananias to accompany him in his relationship with Jesus Christ, each person who approaches the Church needs a companion to help him or her encounter Jesus Christ and his love. Pope Francis states, “The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this ‘art of accompaniment’” (EG 169). Companionship, also called accompaniment, is  important to the faith formation of everyone – our children, youth, adults, and families; and it is central to parish and Catholic school life and ministry.  Who are we accompanying in faith right now? Have we invited anyone recently to join us in Sunday worship? During the Mass, are we conscious of those we need to accompany? Are we willing to go the extra mile for someone we are accompanying?

How do you accompany someone in faith? First listen, then share your story, and walk with them in their faith journey. Ananias was open to the call from God to meet Saul where Saul was, to step out in faith, and to minister to him—literally helping Saul to see and recognize his need for conversion, thus helping Saul come to know Christ in his life. Ananias encourages Saul to trust God and to be open to the invitation that Jesus was giving Saul to come to know him.

To build relationships with individuals, all of us in accompaniment need to be aware of the movements of the heart, mind, and spirit, as well as the deep wounds that an individual may have. Enabling people to encounter God in truth, beauty, and goodness is what attracts the human heart and is where we begin to encounter God. Once a person has encountered God in this way, an invitation to conversion is possible. In the conversion process, evangelization involves the preaching of the Good News of Jesus Christ. The person receives the Gospel message (summed up in the four essential movements below) and hears the invitation to give his or her whole life to Christ:

• God loves you and has a plan for your life.
• Sin separates us from God.
• Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection saved us from sin.
• By turning away from sin and toward God and his Son, we can live a new life as sons and daughters of the Father.

1. How do you think you would have reacted if you had been Ananias?
2. How do we accompany someone in faith?
3. What are some things a person has to experience or develop before they are ready for an invitation to conversion?
4. What are some things we could do in our parishes, schools, families, and ministries to arouse curiosity and build trust with people who do not have faith?
5. How are we accompanying new Catholics?
6. How are we accompanying Catholic families who still need to grow in their relationship with Christ to reach discipleship and to become disciple makers?
7. Are we preaching and teaching the kerygma?
8. Who are you or your family accompanying?