Jesus calls us to rhyme our lives with his, just as the New Covenant rhymes with the Old.
In past years, the WWJD (“What Would Jesus Do?”) phrase has become popular in some circles. It’s well intended and, to be sure, sometimes we are indeed to do what Jesus would do. So, for instance, when somebody sins against us, we must forgive them as Jesus would. When somebody is hurting, we must comfort them as Jesus would. When somebody is hungry, we must feed them as Jesus would.
But we must also remember that we are not Jesus. We are his disciples. We are to be like Jesus. We cannot be Jesus, and, therefore, we cannot always do what Jesus does.
We cannot, for example, multiply loaves and fishes, as a general rule. Nor can we raise people from the dead on a regular basis (though both things have been done from time to time by saints as miraculous signs). I think it would be great if God gave me the power to walk on water as a sign to my fellow Seattleites that he is real and Jesus is his Son. The spectacle of my hefty frame trotting along on Lake Washington next to the floating bridges would certainly be something that could contribute to the evangelization of this least-churched city in the least-churched state in the nation. But I find that God does not support my efforts to do what Jesus did in this particular circumstance.
Why? Because I am not Jesus. I am his disciple. My life is to rhyme with his, not be identical with and indistinguishable from his. He makes us his creatures in his image and likeness, not as robotic copies. He wants to have his cake and eat it by making creatures who are distinct from him with lives and wills of their own, yet are joined to him in the bond of love so that we retain our freedom and independent identities while sharing completely in his divine life.
This is one of the reasons Mary is so important. For there is one thing Jesus, God though he is, cannot do: He cannot show us what a disciple of Jesus looks like. Only a disciple of Jesus can do that.
Mary is Jesus’ greatest disciple. She shows us not what Jesus would do, but what a disciple of Jesus would do. Her life is not identical to Jesus’ life, but, rather, rhymes with Jesus’ life. Jesus calls us to follow him; Mary shows us what following him looks like.
The other saints do the same thing for us, particularly as they show us the sheer catholicity of what it means to follow Jesus. The saints are one in Christ, yet the sheer variety of their responses to God’s call forever puts to death that the Church is a monolith.
There are saints who have said Yes to Jesus by becoming poor men (like Francis), and there are saints who have said Yes to Jesus while remaining wealthy (like Joseph of Arimathea). There are saints who took up arms (like Joan of Arc) and saints who refused to take up arms (like Martin of Tours). There are saints who sought Jesus via family life (like Gianna Molla) and saints who sought Jesus via celibacy (like Jean Vianney).
There are saints who are the picture of psychological health and common sense (like Teresa of Avila) and saints who suffer from mental illness (like Benedict Joseph Labre). There are saints who undertook epic adventures (like Paul) and saints who lived quiet, obscure lives (like Thérèse of Lisieux). Some worked spectacular miracles by the grace of God (like Padre Pio). Others were bureaucrats who worked no miracles and pushed paper (like Robert Bellarmine).
But all of them, in their own ways, rhymed their lives with Jesus in pursuit of heaven. Of which, more next time.
Mark Shea blogs at NCRegister.com.
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A few worries:
you say of WWJD that “it is well intended, and to be sure sometimes we are indeed to do what jesus would do”.
This, in my judgement, is misleading and imprecise. We are always to do what “jesus would do.” You imply otherwise by citing specific miracles he performed (e.g. walking on water). But what Jesus “would do” does not entail the specific miracles he performed in his public ministry.
You say, “we cannot always do what jesus does”. Just to clarify,
this is not the same as saying “we cannot always do what jesus would do”. So the point you make (which is fine), is not a counterpoint to the saying “what would jesus do”.
Therefore the point you make later (“She (mary) shows us not what JEsus would do, but what a disciple would to)
is highly mistaken.
My final objection: you say that my life is to rhyme, and “not be identical with and indistinguishable from his”.
This contradicts 2,000 years of received wisdom, and the spirit especially of John Paul and Benedict’s papacies.
Sorry, I realize my last point is not clear:
when you say that my life is to rhyme, and “not be identical with and indistinguishable from his”,
I respond by saying “no”, this is in fact part of the 2.000 year old wisdom of the church. But just to stay on the same page:
When I think of “identical” I am thinking of strong and meaningful sense of the word “identical”.
I am thinking of “indistinguishable” a bit more loosely.
My God can only be found in strict obedience to my religion
To be Holy means to follow strict religious traditions and rules
God’s truth is only revealed in Tradition and Holy Scripture
God’s truth is not revealed outside your particular religious belief, i.e., Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Budaism, etc.
Only the Catholic Church holds the ‘fullness of the Truth’
God will only love me when I am completely remorseful and confess my sins
God will only love me when I attend my religious services on a regular basis
God walks away from the sinner
God hates a sinner
God punishes those who do not obey His will for them
God created us in His image therefore he looks exactly like the man painted by Michael Angelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
At the end of time God will separate the sinner from the just and cast the sinner into hell for all eternity
God wills that the forces of good and evil engage in a final battle to determine who will join him in heaven and who will be condemned to a fiery hell
God condemns all sexual perverts, including gay’s, lebians, etc.
God condemns those who did not follow the ten commandments
Satan is a separate entity and wants to steal your soul
No one who does not know Jesus will get to heaven
God condemns people who are Pro-Choice
God condemns people who have committed suicide
The Bible is the direct word from God and without error
New Age is an instrument of the devil (Satan)
God rewards only those who perform good deeds
God wants us to evangelize so that everyone will become members of my particular religion
God punished Doctors and nurses who perform abortions
People who have not been baptized cannot enter heaven
God’s salvation will only be realized upon my death, providing I have confessed my sins
Good things and miracles can only happen to people who are ‘holy’
God keeps a record of all my wrongs and rights
If I or anyone else is suffering, it is God’s will
If my prayers are not answered it is because I have not prayed properly
God does not answer prayers from people who have sinned
Celibacy is a church tradition, not a gift from God who does not desire married clergy
Sex between married couples must be reserved for pro-creation
Jesus was a Jew who founded the Christian Church
Priestly ordination is only for men and not a gift from God which women could also enjoy
God does not have a sense of humor
Masturbation is a sin
Missing Mass is a sin
God is more interested in my sins than my potential
No one can be following God if they are not members of a religious community.
Putting your conscience ahead of religious beliefs, i.e., dogma, doctrine, etc. Is a heresy and a sin.
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