Living like Jesus
If all Christians were to imitate our Lord Jesus Christ … we would have the gift of the same life of Jesus Christ. With such a gift, we have … every day innumerable special graces to live like him. (OOCC, III, pp. 35 - 36)
According to St. Vincent Pallotti, a genuine imitation of the life of Jesus Christ becomes the means to acquire the power to live a life similar to that of Jesus. When a person imitates Jesus, he opens himself to have insight into the life of Jesus. He comes to know the nature of the life of Jesus, the qualities that are characteristic of his life, and some of his sentiments in coping with different situations in his life. He comes to know Jesus not only theoretically, but also experientially. Thus, for St. Vincent, true imitation of Jesus makes the person ready to receive the gift of the life of Jesus. When a person receives the life of Jesus by way of reflection and meditation, he can dwell on the life of Jesus on a regular basis. This reflection on the life of Jesus which is the ideal a person is called to live, opens him to live his life in a manner similar to Jesus. Besides accepting Jesus as the example and model for one’s life, the person also is open to the many graces and blessings Jesus showers on him. When a person is inspired by the example of Jesus and is assisted by the divine graces which Jesus showers on him, he is able to live very much like Jesus. In this way, imitation of Jesus - by giving the right insight into the life of Jesus, by placing before the person the example of Jesus as a guide for his life, and by showering on the person the graces Jesus has merited through his death on the cross - makes him live the very life of Jesus in the same way Jesus lived. Thus, for St. Vincent, imitation of Jesus helps a Christian to live like Jesus.
Do I believe that imitation of Jesus helps me to live the very life of Jesus? Does my imitation of Jesus bring me the right knowledge of Jesus? Does my imitation of Jesus open me to the graces and blessings of Jesus? Does the imitation of Jesus help me to learn from the example of Jesus?
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving for you an example that you should follow in his steps. (I Pet. 2: 21)