WE need to understand this point very
well. Yes, we have
to grow to be like Christ. That’s what we are meant for.
The simple reason is that Christ is “the way, the truth,
and the life” for us. As the second person of the Blessed Trinity, he
is the perfect image of God himself. And since we have been created in
God’s image and likeness, the second person of the Blessed Trinity,
therefore, he is the pattern of our humanity.
Besides, as the God who became man, Christ is the restorer
of our humanity after we have been damaged by our sin. That is why we
can aptly be called “alter Christus” a term which means “another
Christ” which should not be referred only to priests, but to all human
beings.
This is, of course, a truth of faith that is presented to
us to act on, and not forced or imposed on us. It is something that
should be taken up by us freely. Let’s hope that we can overcome
whatever prejudice, disbelief and awkwardness that can undermine our
desire and effort to be “alter Christus.”
In Scripture, many are the references that point to this
truth. St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, for example, tells it to us
very clearly. “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the
head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together
by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working
properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.” (4,15-16)
Still in another epistle of his, he referred to himself as
having “the mind of Christ,” when he talked about his duty to preach.
(cfr 1 Cor 2,16) It’s the ideal that certainly was not meant for St.
Paul alone, or for preachers, but for all of us.
As regards our lifelong struggle against evil, St. Paul
recommended nothing less than being with God. “Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,”
he said. (Eph 6,11)
We have to be “alter Christus” because like Christ we have
been created to be children of God. In our case, we are children of
God by adoption. St. Paul attests to this truth when he said in his
Letter to the Romans: “You have not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby
we cry, Abba, Father.” (8,15)
On the part of Christ, everything has already been given
so that we can be what we ought to be, “alter Christus.” In that
Letter to the Ephesians, St Paul said: “His gifts were that some
should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and
teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, until we all
attain to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ.” (4,11-13)
We should not hesitate to keep our side of the bargain.
Christ himself assured us of his side: “Ask, and it will be given you.
Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Mt
7,7)
Reinforcing his assurance, Christ continues to say: “For
everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who
knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for
bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him
a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give
good things to those who ask him!” (Mt 7,8-11)
It should be full steam ahead in our effort to become like
another Christ. To be sure, it will not be an act of fanaticism, for
Christ himself is the very personification of naturalness, compassion
and patience. It’s when we act like a fanatic that we can be sure it’s
not Christ whom we are following.
We should not be afraid to undertake this lifelong
process, thinking perhaps that it will detach us from the worldly
realities. Nothing can be farther than the truth. With Christ, we
would know how to love the world, how to get immersed in it, but
always in the proper way.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal
life.” (Jn 3,16)
to grow to be like Christ. That’s what we are meant for.
The simple reason is that Christ is “the way, the truth,
and the life” for us. As the second person of the Blessed Trinity, he
is the perfect image of God himself. And since we have been created in
God’s image and likeness, the second person of the Blessed Trinity,
therefore, he is the pattern of our humanity.
Besides, as the God who became man, Christ is the restorer
of our humanity after we have been damaged by our sin. That is why we
can aptly be called “alter Christus” a term which means “another
Christ” which should not be referred only to priests, but to all human
beings.
This is, of course, a truth of faith that is presented to
us to act on, and not forced or imposed on us. It is something that
should be taken up by us freely. Let’s hope that we can overcome
whatever prejudice, disbelief and awkwardness that can undermine our
desire and effort to be “alter Christus.”
In Scripture, many are the references that point to this
truth. St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, for example, tells it to us
very clearly. “We are to grow up in every way into him who is the
head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together
by every joint with which it is supplied, when each part is working
properly, makes bodily growth and upbuilds itself in love.” (4,15-16)
Still in another epistle of his, he referred to himself as
having “the mind of Christ,” when he talked about his duty to preach.
(cfr 1 Cor 2,16) It’s the ideal that certainly was not meant for St.
Paul alone, or for preachers, but for all of us.
As regards our lifelong struggle against evil, St. Paul
recommended nothing less than being with God. “Put on the whole armor
of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,”
he said. (Eph 6,11)
We have to be “alter Christus” because like Christ we have
been created to be children of God. In our case, we are children of
God by adoption. St. Paul attests to this truth when he said in his
Letter to the Romans: “You have not received the spirit of bondage
again to fear. But you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby
we cry, Abba, Father.” (8,15)
On the part of Christ, everything has already been given
so that we can be what we ought to be, “alter Christus.” In that
Letter to the Ephesians, St Paul said: “His gifts were that some
should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and
teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, until we all
attain to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of
Christ.” (4,11-13)
We should not hesitate to keep our side of the bargain.
Christ himself assured us of his side: “Ask, and it will be given you.
Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Mt
7,7)
Reinforcing his assurance, Christ continues to say: “For
everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who
knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for
bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him
a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to
your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give
good things to those who ask him!” (Mt 7,8-11)
It should be full steam ahead in our effort to become like
another Christ. To be sure, it will not be an act of fanaticism, for
Christ himself is the very personification of naturalness, compassion
and patience. It’s when we act like a fanatic that we can be sure it’s
not Christ whom we are following.
We should not be afraid to undertake this lifelong
process, thinking perhaps that it will detach us from the worldly
realities. Nothing can be farther than the truth. With Christ, we
would know how to love the world, how to get immersed in it, but
always in the proper way.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal
life.” (Jn 3,16)
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