Reflection
Jesus gave us the example of his life and vision. This is a guide for how we should act within the circumstances of the 21st century, a distinctive way of relationship rather than a static command. We are to be people of our own times applying the spiritual insights we learn from the life of Jesus to our own living. To ignore the information gained in more than 2000 years and try to live according to a blueprint of the past is not in the spirit of the Jesus who dared to challenge things as they were, pointed to a better way, and promised to send the Spirit who would be a teacher and guide for the future.
Prayer
May I live in imitation of Christ.
Action
What response in my circumstances does the example of Jesus set for me? How can the truth of gospel teaching best be applied to present times?
Suggested Reading
For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.
John 13:15
If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.
1 John 2:4-6
Discipleship must begin with a living experience of God and his love. It is not something static, but a continuous movement towards Christ; it is not simply the fidelity to making a doctrine explicit, but rather the experience of the Lord’s living, kindly and active presence, an ongoing formation by listening to his word.
Pope Francis
Our role in life is to bring the light of our own souls to the dim places around us.
Joan Chittister
The story of Jesus does not tell us what to directly do in our circumstances, but attending faithfully to that tuning fork we are in a position to hear what God summons us to accomplish in our own time and are given strength to do it while we have life.
Anne E. Patrick
Jesus of Nazareth always comes asking disciples to follow him–not merely “accept him,” not merely “believe in him,” not merely “worship him,” but to follow him: one either follows Christ, or one does not.
Lee Camp
Nothing is more important for mature Christian discipleship than a fresh, clear, true vision of the authentic Jesus.
John Stott
Let us follow Jesus as our One and Only Model.
Charles de Foucauld
To follow Jesus implies that we enter into a way of life that is given character and shape and direction by the one who calls us. To follow Jesus means picking up rhythms and ways of doing things that are often unsaid but always derivative from Jesus, formed by the influence of Jesus. To follow Jesus means that we can’t separate what Jesus is saying from what Jesus is doing and the way that he is doing it.
Eugene H. Peterson