Whose Life Is It Anyway?

People of faith know or learn that life is more than this life.

In this weekend's first reading Job, the man of faith and misery, keeps his faith in spite of the torments of his life. If anyone ever told you to endure your hardships with a stoic stiff upper lip, you may want to point to Job and say, "no way!" Job berated God, was angry with God, cried to God, whined to God, brought his gloom to God, but always believed in God. His family and false friends gave up on Job and his God. Job did not. At the end of his story Job states, "I know that my Redeemer lives." After having everything earthly that matters taken away from him, Job still yells at God seeking relief. And Peace finally came to Job's life.

In St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians he states the purpose for which he witnesses and writes. "All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may have a share in it." His hardships too were manifold. Arrests, torture, rejection, distrust (even by the other Apostles), constantly uprooting and heading to new lands and cities to spread the Good News were his way of life. Eventually he even died a martyr's death. He did this because he too was aware that, "it is not I who live, but Christ lives in me." After getting knocked off of his horse and blinded, his life was never his own any more. He became bigger than he could have ever imagined.

Jesus just keeps on moving, proclaiming, and healing. Especially in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus seems to be in an urgent rush. Get baptized. Hear God say, "This is My Beloved Son!" Deal with the Devil. Call disciples. Start preaching, dealing with other demons, and healing. Go. Go. Go. Stop for a prayer with Dad. Go some more. His life was definitely not His own. He lived every moment to do the will of His Father and nothing more.

Because of this way that He lived out being the Son of God we have a template on how we are all called to live. We too are God's beloved sons and daughters. We were made in His image and thus share much in similarity to His Son. He shared our life and now asks us to share His life of trust, reconciliation, true freedom, healing, helping and living to the full.

It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery. In regards to trying to be more like Christ, imitation is also our best way to peace, union with the will of God, and our path to eternal life with God. The key for us is to daily let God take control of a little bit more of our lives and anything else we call our own. Jesus, Paul, Job and every saint since them has let God be the focus of their lives. Our path to full and free life starts with us letting God guide us.

peace,
Fr. Chuck