Imitators of Christ

Tonight at Mass, I was particularly struck by two lines in the second reading. St. Paul is telling the Church in Philipi to join him in imitating Christ, even when it means going against the popular decisions of others. I was particularly struck by Philipians 3:17-18

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us. For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.

(You can read the rest of the passage here.)

First, this popped out at me because my school's Lenten theme this year is "Imitators of Christ," which daily causes me to think about the ways I am doing this in my life -- and also the many times I fail to do so.

But even more so, I was struck by St. Paul's intensity in his emotion about the fact that some live as enemies of Christ -- or as enemies of the cross of Christ. St. Paul understood that apart from the cross, Christ loses His full identity. I'm not saying that Christ was nothing before the crucifixion, because clearly that is not true! However, I think it is often very easy to "imitate Christ" when things are good. It's easy to spend a Sunday serving lunch at the nursing home. It's easy to send a card to someone who has suffered a loss. It's easy to pick up the books of the kid who dropped them in the hall.

It is much more difficult to embrace the cross of Christ.

It's difficult to realize that I can no longer do this task [whatever it may be] on my own.

It's difficult to look someone in the eyes and recognize their need for companionship, especially when the situation makes me uncomfortable.

It's difficult to be the victim of a bully, especially when I know I've done nothing wrong -- or when I've done the right thing that is very unpopular.

See, it's easy (or easier, at least) to follow Christ without the cross. But that's not what we are called to do. Christ embraced the cross, and in order to imitate Him, we must do the same. St. Paul was so adamant about this fact that he was literally in tears while writing this letter, simply because some were not following properly. Now that is dedication. That is leadership. That is knowing What you follow is TRUE. That kind of intensity can't be washed away, and it can't be faked.

That is the intensity of an Encounter with Beauty and a true, intense desire to share it with everyone.


...and it forces me to ask the question, do I live with that intensity? Do I really invest my heart and soul in what I'm doing and how I'm living, like St. Paul? Am I that broken up about the choices made by another person?


If the answer is yes, where is the proof?
And if the answer is no, what is holding me back? 



Philipians 3:17-18   ...a beautiful challenge of discipleship!