Lead by example. Most of us have heard these words, whether growing up as children, to be a good example for siblings, friends. It could be getting older, in a job opportunity and standing up for what is right, even if your co-workers think lesser of you for doing so. What does leading by example mean for us? Most of the time, it is standing up for what you believe to be morally good and true in the world, and acting upon those beliefs. For the people of Jesus' time, the word which best describes this is "Quodesh", meaning "to cut off" or "to become separate" from what is unholy or unclean. The people of the Jewish tradition wanted to live in holiness, in the term of "Imitatio Dei", imitating God in holiness. For them, cutting our everything that was Holy was how to be more holy, and more like God, which was their way of leading by example as the people of God.
However, Jesus gives us a different way to look at what it means to become truly a holy person of faith, what it means to lead by example in faith. Jesus teaches us that it is important to love, to show compassion, to give mercy and forgiveness, to seek justice and also show acceptance for all people. This touches on yesterday's article, not being a hypocrite by one's belief versus actions. In our society, there are so many examples of 'cliques', groups separated from one another based on interests. In turn, we tend to disrespect and undermine those not similar to us, cutting them out of our lives because we do not believe them to be worthwhile for us. This is very similar with what the Jews thought of Jesus helping those not in his 'class' or status, the poor, the sinner, the suffering.
In today's Gospel we read:'"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven' (Matthew 5:17-19).Jesus tells us that to be truly imitate God's holiness, we need to lead by example in our faith, teaching by example the commandments and lessons given by Christ. The greatest of these loving God, and the next loving our neighbour, not cutting people out of our lives, but bringing more in, so to lead by example as Jesus did and showing true acceptance.
Today's prayer comes from "Bishop Walsh", a prayer for becoming a better person:
Dear Lord, help us to love one another and let us open our eyes to see all the right and wrong that we have done. Let us open our lips to speak what is right and not wrong. Help us to make good decisions, be strong and not give up and live our lives as we should, in your image. Amen
