Pattern our life after Christ’s life

WE have to understand this truth of our faith well. While

the life of each of us is very personal and unique, we have to realize

that, for our life to be the life meant for us by our Creator, it

should be patterned after the life of Christ who, as he said, is “the

way, the truth, and the life” for us. (cfr. Jn 14,6)

            Of course, this business of patterning our life after

Christ’s life is not a matter of literally going through the same

events that comprised Christ’s life as recorded in the gospels.

            That’s not possible, since the circumstances of the life

of each of us vary. What it means is that we should try to shape our

life according to the spirit, the will, and the ways of Christ as he

tackled all the possible scenarios that our human condition here on

earth would entail.

            Developing our life independently of the spirit, will and

ways of Christ would not lead us to our proper end which is to be with

God, our Creator, in whose image and likeness we have been created.

            As we have been taught by our Catechism, Christ as the Son

of God and therefore the perfect image that God has of his own self,

is the pattern of our humanity. And as the Son of God who became man,

he is the savior of our humanity damaged by sin.

            We need to understand that the spirit with which the life

of Christ was shaped has a universal applicability for all of us. We

cannot consider that life is just one more among many others. His is

THE life meant for us. Our life would not be as it should be if it is

not patterned after Christ’s life.

            That’s why we need to know very well the life of Christ.

We have to try to discern what Christ is telling us in each event of

his life, what he is trying to teach us with his words, deeds,

reactions. We have to know what his mission was here on earth, for

that also should be our mission. We have to expect to experience what

Christ also experienced, although in different ways and forms.

            We have to have the very mind of Christ, the very identity

of his, to such an extent that with St. Paul, we can say, “It is no

longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2,20)

            When we make our plans for our life, let us be more active

in conforming our plans with the spirit, will and ways of Christ.

That’s because, even if we fail to consciously conform our plans to

his, Christ on his part will shape it just the same according to the

plan he has for each one us.

            It will always be a personal relationship that Christ will

develop with each one of us. He is actually shaping us so that we can

be God’s image and likeness, and children of his.

            His love for us precedes and is meant to inspire our love

for him in return. It would be good if we do our part in corresponding

to his love as knowingly and lovingly as well. We have to understand

that Christ offers us the way of how to properly handle whatever

situation we find ourselves here so that we can manage to achieve our

final goal. In the end, Christ gives his own self to us.

            Christ predestines no one to perdition. If one ends in

hell, it is because of his total and direct rejection of Christ, not

because Christ destines him to hell. The “Son of perdition” mentioned

twice in the New Testament is a reference to a person who formally

rejected Christ, in spite of what Christ has done for all of us.