Imitate The Right Way

Monkey see, monkey do.  This expression was first heard in the early 1920s, and we still use it today, especially with children.  It’s about mimicking with little to no concern about the consequences of our actions.  It’s blind-folded imitation.  We do it because they did it.  We buy it because they bought it.  We pass on the gossip because we heard it.

Today’s second reading from St. Paul is about imitation but with good purpose and with our knowing the consequence of what we do.  Writing about 2,000 years ago, Paul gives us his heartfelt, timely, and timeless advice about the right kind of imitation.   He says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” 

In other words, imitate Christ.  And this makes complete sense because Jesus never said, “Worship me.”  He said, “Follow me…Be not afraid…Do what I do…Be thankful… Forgive... See my face in the faces of others…Love God” 

We consider Jesus to be divine, so worship might seem to be enough, but not if we pay attention to the early disciples who knew he was more to be imitated than worshiped.   Pope Francis seems to be on same wavelength because he recently told the world’s bishops and priests, and all of us – “Imitate Jesus.”

This imitation means we should respect everyone we meet; we should prefer service over power; we should reject violence; we should never lie or cheat; and we should always be generous and kind, something many of us just don’t do: be kind – be good.  

An example of how to be “good” and imitate is provided in our Gospel reading where we hear Jesus say something that strikes to the very core of his teaching and who he was.  He said to the kneeling and begging leper, after stretching out his hand and touching the leper, “Be made clean.” 

He was there for the leper.  He knew what the leper needed.  He knew the leper was considered unclean and shunned.  He was alone – forced to live “outside the camp,” as described in our first reading from Leviticus.  

By calling the leper clean, Jesus welcomed the man and recognized him for whom he was – a suffering man in need of compassion, not exclusion.  He asked his followers to do the same: reach out and touch someone in need of comfort – in need of help.

That help also takes the form of forgiveness.  Our loved ones and friends asking for forgiveness is the way in which they ask to be made clean.  Like Jesus, we must reach out and touch them – forgive them.  The unforgiven remain unclean.

This week is the perfect time to give serious thought to our own cleanliness because Ash Wednesday is only three days away.  On that day we are called to repent of our sins and have clean hearts.  This will happen when we receive our ashes. 

We will hear the responsorial psalm:  “Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.  Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me…A clean heart create for me, O God.”

We call upon our janitor we call Jesus Christ.  Although he doesn’t wear a white tee shirt, isn’t bald, and doesn’t have a gold ring in his ear, he is our Mr. Clean.

I end with this story about reaching out, touching, and giving comfort.

A man named Michael was sitting by the hospital bed of his young son, just out from major emergency surgery.  Dreadful thoughts kept creeping into his mind.   Why had he not called the doctor sooner?  Why had he not suspected that his son’s troubles were more than a stomach ache? Why? Why?

Suddenly, the youngster stirred, opened his eyes and saw his father sitting nearby.  The little boy stretched out his small, fevered hand to his father and said, “Hold my hand, Daddy.  I hurt so bad.”

With tears in his eyes, Michael took his son’s hand.  The small boy smiled weakly and drifted off into unconsciousness again.  Then, Michael bowed his head, closed his eyes and wisely imitated his boy by whispering, “Stretch out your hand Father.  Hold my hand.  I hurt.”

The boy and his father were comforted and cleaned through a simple yet so important gesture: they held out their hands and touched – as did Jesus with the leper.

We’ve all heard the expression: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.  Not monkey-see-monkey-do imitation, but Jesus-like imitation.  Let’s fondly flatter Jesus who reminds us that the right kind of imitation allows us to save ourselves and all those who take our outstretched hands.

Deacon David Pierce

Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46
1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1
Mark 1:40-45