Live by Example

One of my high school teacher’s favorite phrases was, “Do as I say, not as I do.” He said it, I believe, to point out the absurdity of the statement. That absurdity is something I have learned in the course of more than thirty years of ministry. We actually learn by imitating others, not by listening to what they say. I could give many examples of this. You probably know many as well. Children grow up to be like their parents. If you do not believe this, just watch children play. Their play is, on one level, an imitation of their family life. I am not telling you anything that you do not already know. I can point out to you all the characteristics that I learned from my father’s example. Some of the things are those that I told myself that I would never do when I grew up, yet, I find myself doing them. We all learn by imitating our parents, other family members, friends, and teachers. That is why Paul is telling the Philippians to imitate him. Part of this request probably comes from the fact that they were listening to others who were contradicting Paul. He also was warning the Philippians about listening to the world and running after things that were not important. Do not chase after material things or follow those whose minds are set on earthly things for their god is their belly and their glory is shame, Paul told them.

But why imitate Paul? Might he not bring the people to a wrong understanding? The answer to those questions is Paul was imitating Jesus. In the end, it is Jesus who is our example whom we are called to follow and imitate. A quick look at our own lives we will notice the many times that we have not imitated Jesus. We confessed that today as we began our liturgy. Fortunately the one who we are called to follow gave up his power and humbled himself and was obedient, even to death on the cross so that we may live. Jesus’ action is what we are called to imitate even as he paid for our sin of setting our minds on earthly things. To imitate Jesus, then, is to give up your selfish desires and work to help others live the life God calls them to.

This Lent I have been reminding you of the traditional works of Lent – Prayer, penance, and alms. I have added a fourth, reading the Bible. (Actually this should be our everyday action no matter what season of the year we are in.) We read the Bible and pray because that is the way we learn what God has done for us and what God desires for us to do. We confess our sins to help us see others as God’s children instead of people who are different from us. Confession removes our guilt and reminds us that we do not always do as God desires but, because God loves us, we are free to act. With the assurance of God’s forgiveness and an image of God’s salvation we enter the world to help those in need. Whether it is ourselves, our time, or our possessions we follow Jesus and use them so that others will experience God’s love through us. We can do no other.