In today’s first reading Paul calls upon the Philippians and us to be imitators of him. “Join with other in being imitators of me…and observe those who thus conduct themselves according to the model you have in us.” Ultimately Paul, as all disciples, is called upon to be an imitator of Jesus. After washing the feet of his disciples Jesus instructs them:
“Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John13:12-15)
Jesus calls his disciples to humility, service, and sacrifice: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-35). It seems to Paul that some in the Philippian community have rejected this way of the cross:
“For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their ‘shame.’ Their minds are occupied with earthly things.” (Phil 3:18).
The way of the cross is to think the things of God as Jesus challenges Peter: “At this Jesus turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.’” (Mark 8:33).
Paul tells us that we can think as God does because “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” When we take up our cross each day it does not mean that we look for pain and suffering, it means that we put God’s will before all, even our own will. This was Jesus’ prayer and Jesus’ way: “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” (Mark 14:36). Let us strive today to be imitators of Paul, that is, to be imitators of Jesus Christ.
Image: “Christ Washes the Feet of St Peter” by Lawrence OP is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.