Deacon Tom writes
“Imitation Is The
Greatest Form Of Flattery”
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Talk about setting a high standard for ourselves. Do you
think St. Paul was serious when he told the people of Ephesus “to be imitators of God? Ephesus was the third largest city in
the Roman Empire and was home to a quarter of a million people when Paul
arrived there to begin his missionary work. Paul set up his ministry in this
city because it was the center of the Greco-Roman culture, drawing travelers
from both worlds. His approach to teaching the people of Ephesus was focused,
direct, and predicated on this core principle: Christianity requires a dramatic
change in the way would be followers of Christ live every aspect of our lives. Christianity
isn’t just being nice to one another or a polite way of living. Paul explains
the conversion of heart that one must have to genuinely embrace the “ New Way”
he was teaching. His instruction is simple, “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed
from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ”.
The image above was painted by Maryknoll Brother, Robert
Lentz in an… “endeavor to see the Christ
among the least of us, and to serve the Christ that lives in the margins of
this world”. Our faith
challenges us to increase in our understanding of how we are called to love and
serve the poor and marginalized in our time as did Christ in his, and…. to “have among yourselves the same attitude that
is also yours in Christ Jesus”. Phil 2:5
Imitation is the greatest form of flattery as the saying
goes. In our readings today, St. Paul is calling upon the people of Ephesus to
embrace a new life, not just changing their behavior, but also taking on a new
role model, Christ, who, as, “the way and
the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6) showed us how we are to be “Imitators of God”. It’s a worthy goal! And, it is certainly
one that is difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible, but worthy and something
to be strived for as we endure life’s challenges!
Change is always difficult. Bad habits are hard to break. Paul
speaks to us today, asking us to become God-like. This requires that we not
only stop doing some things, like being bitter, angry, or uncivil. We must also
start doing some other things, like being kind, forgiving each other, being
compassionate; not necessarily in becoming prisoners for the cause or righteousness
as much as using our many freedoms to serve God’s Will. To become more God-like
is really a movement away from behaviors that are self-centered and replacing
them with activities that are God-like and that demonstrate our concern and
love for one another.
Be imitators of Christ today. Send a card to a sick friend; do
a good deed for someone, a random act
of kindness; tell someone you’re
sorry for a hurt you may have
caused; little by little letting go of
self and becoming more and more “Imitators of God”.
Enjoy the day!
Deacon Tom
Photo Credit – Christ Of Maryknoll, Br Robert Lentz, OFM
