the imitation of christ
"So Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water, moving toward Jesus." —Matthew 14:29
If you saw Jesus walking on water, what would you say? You might be too shocked to say anything. Like the apostles, you might say: "It is a ghost" or a hallucination (Mt 14:26). Maybe some people would say: "Praise the Lord!" But who would say with Peter: "Lord, if it is really You, tell me to come to You across the water"? (Mt 14:28) Peter was often different. What made him say such a thing?
Perhaps Peter intuitively grasped the essence of discipleship when he asked to walk on the water. Christian discipleship is to imitate Jesus — not merely in a general way but as exactly as possible. As far as possible, disciples walk, think, feel, work, love, talk, see, and live as Jesus does. Disciples are interested in walking on the water only in imitation of Jesus.
Are you preoccupied with imitating Jesus? Do you read the Bible so as to better imitate Jesus? Do you consider it a "good day" or a "good life" based on how well you imitate Jesus? Think discipleship. Think the imitation of Christ.
Prayer: Father, make me worthy of the name "Christian."
Promise: "Moses cried to the Lord, 'Please, not this! Pray, heal her!' " —Nm 12:13
Praise: St. Cajetan wrote: "Do not waver...He will always be near you whatever your needs."
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, February 13, 2001
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 20, 2001