31st Week in OT 2020 - Friday - Imitate the holy ones

Paul’s exhortation might sound strange to our ears. “Be imitators of me”, he says. We are certainly reluctant to present ourselves as moral or religious examples for others. But in the ancient Greco-Roman world it was a common and acceptable practice for teachers to point to themselves as examples.

And really, it is human nature, to look for examples to imitate; and teachers know that their role inevitably makes them examples…for better or for worse.

Moreover, our own culture holds up examples all the time: a recovered alcoholic will tell their story to encourage other alcoholics toward sobriety. Exercise enthusiasts will speak of the new energy they’ve gained from a particular exercise program in order to prompt their sluggish friends to join a gym. Or upon finding a successful diet, we’re very quick to tell others about it.

Christians, like Paul, need to set good example for others and need to be enthusiastic about telling people about the difference believing in Christ means in our life. We don’t just tell people they need to go to Church, but why they need to go to Church, what we get out of going to Church. We don’t just tell people they need to pray the rosary, but why they should pray the rosary, what we’ve personally gotten out of praying the rosary. Why should we read the Bible? Because there are many misconceptions floating around in our culture about the Bible, and the Bible gives us deep insight into the mystery of God and how to conduct one’s life with wisdom and how to bear the fruits of the Spirit!

Having reminded the Philippian Christians whom they should take as their models, Paul warns them of those they should not imitate—do not imitate those who “conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.” Our culture holds up some pretty vile people as role models—people who have made earthly fame, earthly power, earthly riches, the god of their lives. And we must be very careful, that we are not envying these people, or allowing our minds to become occupied with earthly things as they are. 

Because in the end, and Paul is very clear about this, earthly life will end in one of two ways: salvation or damnation. If we have spent our life pursuing earthly things, it will end in destruction. But modeling our lives after the saints, spending our lives seeking to be models of faith for others, we show that our eternal citizenship is in heaven. 

May we repent of all earthly thinking and earthly pursuit, and recommit to imitating the holy ones, conforming ourselves to Christ in this life, that we may be conformed to him forever in heaven, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in their imitation of the saints. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our young people may be blessed to be raised in faith filled homes, that they may be protected from the evils of our culture, and be granted a firm knowledge of their vocation to holiness. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our nation, beset with such vast corruption, might look to the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the life that only he can offer. Let us pray to the Lord. 

That Christ the Good Shepherd will draw close to all who suffer, the sick, the needy, victims of injustice, and the dying.

We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, all deceased members of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, our deceased family members and friends, deceased clergy and religious, those who fought and died for our freedom and for X. for whom this mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.