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The Southern Cross, Page 8 Faith Alive i Thursday, October 12, 2000 o c What living by the Gospel entails By Father John W. Crossin, OSFS Catholic News Service hat would Jesus do” is a powerful popular slogan. Christian cards and bracelets — common among youth — signify a determina tion to imitate Christ in making decisions. While simple, the sentence cap tures a central ele ment of Christian teaching: We are seeking to be like Christ. This imitation, however, extends to character forma tion. With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we seek to form our characters to be like Christ. This is a lifelong process. It requires tak ing time daily to be with Christ in prayer: First, we need to set aside time each day; this is the hardest part in our fast-paced lives. Then we must read the Gospel carefully, reflecting reverently on Jesus’ words and deeds. Gradually we come to see the world through his teaching. His mes sage becomes part of our view of the world both con sciously and un consciously. —As a result we see the physical things around us not as mere collec tions of atoms to manipulate but as God’s creation. —We see other people not as oppo nents to conquer but as fellow hu mans made in God’s image. —We frame situations not prima rily in economic or political terms but in terms of Christian love. —We see the homeless person not as a social eyesore or financial fail- FOODFORTHOUGHT ure, but as the Good Samaritan would. Almost imperceptibly, a way of life forms in which we make daily choices to be patient, gentle, civil and kind in imitation of the love that Jesus Christ shows us in the Gospel. The Gospel of Jesus involves such small acts of radical self-giv ing for others. Each Christian is called to acts of self-sacrifice for the good of others who are helpless or in need. It is in this context — imitation of Christ, community prayer and reflec tion, radical self-giving — that we can confront the issues of contempo rary society not explicitly addressed by Jesus. Our response to questions such as those raised by the mapping of the human genome arises precisely from our long tradition of reflection as a church community on Jesus’ teach ing and life. ■ ■ ■ Years ago, as a young postulant for the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, I realized suddenly one spring after noon, while sitting quietly in the back of the classroom, that in following hat would Jesus do’ ... captures a central element of Christian teaching: We are seeking to be like Christ.... This is a lifelong process. It requires taking time daily to he with Christ in prayer.” —Leaders were to serve. —Suffering was to lead to eternal life. ■ ■ ■ The community of Jesus’ disciples was to live a very different life than previously. “Christian life” meant not only what “I” should do in imitation of Jesus but who “we” should be as a commu nity. Christ’s message transforms individu als and draws them to community. Chris tians become like Christ “together,” not separately. This is most pro foundly evident on Sundays when we come together to cel ebrate the Eucharist. We can take this meditation a step further. Jesus preached the reign of God. This was a radically different reign: —The lowly were to be raised up. —The last were to be first. Often Christ speaks to us through the good example and en couraging words of community members present with us to pray. And Christ’s mes sage is meant to trans form the world. Individual, commu nity and society (the world) cannot readily be separated. The hu man person is a per son in relationships: in friendships, com munities, cultures and society. We are not meant to be alone. Some Saturday mornings when I go out walking through the neighborhood, I see a group of pro-life demonstrators pray ing before the neigh borhood abortion clinic. These men and women are working as a praying community for society’s transforma tion. They are living the Gospel of peace and justice. They are seeking “to raise up the lowly.” what living by the Gospel There are reasons people spend a lifetime figuring out — and figuring out again means. This rich question can be approached from various starting points. First is what the Gospel itself says. Even here there are different starting points: —What the Gospel teaches in a didactic sense — its instruction. —The example given by those who people the biblical pages. Then there’s the question of “me.” What are my personal needs and hopes? Assessing them helps illuminate how the Gospel might apply to my life. Naturally, my needs change with time, bringing a need to “re-search” the question. Yet another starting point involves the larger world’s needs — asking, for example, how I can live by the Gospel in ways that promote the right to life and all human rights. Related to that are my aptitudes. Identifying ways to live by the Gospel may require asking where I can make a contribution — what my strengths and limitations are. How does anyone live by the Gospel? The question holds genuine food for thought — for meditation David Gibson, Editor, Faith Alive! Christ you have “to let go of every thing.” This is the Gospel call — to give everything to Christ, everything — to be totally like him in love. More than 30 years later I still find this call incredibly challenging. I re alize now that it is the work of a lifetime to: —Give everything to Christ. —See everything and everyone in Christ. —Treat everyone like Christ. 'Ultimately it is not just our work. Grace, the Holy Spirit’s work, trans forms us. Without such guidance we can really do nothing. And this guidance comes in God’s time, not our own. (I am always in a hurry; God is slow. God our Father took centuries to form Israel and still continues his slow ways with you and me.) Finally, living the Gospel involves coming to maturity. At 19 I didn’t really know who I was and had little understanding of what it would be like to give myself away. Now at 53, having read St. Francis de Sales and other saints, and having lived three more decades, I see more clearly. Formation into Christ is ulti mately a slow process that proceeds in God’s time. We are not able to force the issue. We collaborate with grace and wait on the Holy Spirit. God’s timing is best. (Oblate Father Crossin is execu tive director of the Washington Theo logical Consortium.) All contents copy right ©2000 by CNS 34