Daily Imitation of Jesus: A Difficult Task
My God … I have said I will perform this or that act of virtue or good work, and then done nothing. Now, however, I place myself in your hands, my God. By myself I can do nothing; with you I can do anything. (OOCC, X, p. 122; STA, 178)
Often at the initial stages of a person’s turning to Christ, the idea of imitating Christ may be more appealing and one may be very enthusiastic about living a life in imitation of Jesus. But as a person strives on a daily and continuous basis, he can find the life hard going. Consistency in the daily practice of virtue in imitation of Jesus can often be difficult and arduous. Besides, such a constant practice can become a routine exercise and in the process, lose its meaning for the person. St. Vincent Pallotti experienced both of these difficulties in his own personal life in imitation of Jesus. He himself acknowledged that he encountered such difficulties in his spiritual journey. But he made every effort and took every trouble upon himself to persevere in his practice of this holy obligation. Similarly he worked against the tendency within him for the practice of imitation of Jesus to become a routine exercise. To cope with such difficulties, each morning as he awoke, St. Vincent reflected on the good he would be able to accomplish and the glory he would be able to bring to God, if he lived in imitation of Jesus. Besides, he counted on God’s power to persevere in this practice saying: “By myself I can do nothing; with you I can do anything.”
Do I persevere in the practice of the imitation of Jesus? How do I cope with the difficulties that come my way? Does the imitation of Jesus become a routine exercise in my Christian living? Do I accept the power of God to carry me through the difficulties?
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. (Eph. 6: 10 – 11)