Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, oh so they say. Do you believe this to be true? Have you ever had an experience where someone imitated you and you found it flattering? I guess that all depends on what they were imitating.
As people of faith, we are called to be imitators of Christ, per the example St. Paul gives us today in our 2nd reading!
It is rare that the opportunity to preach on the 2nd reading comes around. With this being our last Sunday in Ordinary Time before we begin the season of Lent, this reading has really spoken to me. In this 1st letter addressed to the people of Corinth, St. Paul accomplishes three things, with an overarching message of correct that which is wrong and persevere in the faith.
What are these three things Paul gives us by way of this important message to the Corinthians? First we are reminded in anything and everything we do, do so for God's greater glory. Even something as simple as eating or drinking, do so for God. What a reminder for us today. How many of us can honestly say that all that we do is motivated primarily for giving Glory to God? Hopefully, upon prayer, reflection and a sincere examination of conscience we can point to this reality. It is true however that the pace of everyday life can try and squeeze God out. St. Paul's encouragement to the Corinthians is the same encouragement for us today. We are challenged then to put our focus back on God, in the everyday, in the small and the large, in the spectacular and the mundane, at work, at school, in factories and college universities, at recreation and play, at family gatherings, while shopping, enjoying friends at social events, yes, in eating and drinking. In all things, give all the glory to God. Ad Majorem Dei Glorium.
St. Paul's second point is: give no offense. Yes, as followers of Christ and Christian witness to the whole world, we are called to not give offense. This can mean for us today, both within our own families and close friends and the whole world. Do we give offense because someone belongs to a different religion or has no faith? Do we give offense because someone's politics are different from ours? Do we give offense because someone looks different or acts different from us? Do we give offense when someone hurts us, disappoints us and just let's us down? Do we give offense when someone else accomplishes something and we find ourselves envious and jealous? You get the point. St. Paul's encouragement is direct: give no offense. Of course, when we are aware of this, we are called then to make reconciliation, both sacramentally and to those we may have offended. And what about those who offend us? As hard as it may be, we are called to forgive, and give no offense in return.
Finally St. Paul tells us that be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. When people imitate us, would they be imitating Christ as well? That's a reflection we all should take to prayer. We must discern first of all am I about imitating Christ and being such a witness to that imitation that if others imitate me, they too will be imitating Christ? St. Paul's personal journey from Christ hater, by persecuting Christians, to being the Apostle to the Gentiles was transformative and took complete and total surrender to Jesus Christ. Like us, no matter our background or our past, we too can be like St. Paul where we can say confidently to any brother or sister we encounter, imitate me because I imitate Christ.
Encouraged and fortified by this message at the onset of Lent, can we pledge this week to always put God first, give God all the glory, give no offense and truly imitate Christ? And if we are true imitators of Christ, we pray that when others imitate us, then they too are imitating Christ. Since we are right before Lent, can we also commit tight now to make this Lent truly meaningful, to live a life of prayer, fasting and giving alms, which can mean giving charity, as Christ shares His charity with all of us? Do not forget the blessed graces that come from being present at Ash Wednesday and reflecting on the true meaning of freely receiving ashes. Is daily Mass something we can do, life responsibilities permitting, starting this week. And this Friday, as perhaps your family comes to partake of our KC fish fry dinners, will we remember the Stations of the Cross, an important Lenten devotional, an opportunity to, by our presence, be imitators of Christ.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Perhaps so. Christ does not desire flattery, but he calls us, as St. Paul has taught us, to be a true imitator of Him.
And remember, Ad Majorem Dei Glorium, to God be all the Glory!
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