Every Disciple will be like his teacher. Back in the 90’s when I worked at Buick, I can recall that the manager of our factory at the time always wore a sweater vest. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but it just set him apart from how other managers dressed in suits and ties. It wasn’t long that I noticed that most of the other men I worked with started to wear sweater vests too. Some looked good in them, others not so much. I don’t think it was a fashion trend at the time but the men, were becoming like their leader at least in the way they dressed. Could this be what Jesus means when he says that every disciple will be like his teacher? Maybe not, but we will become like our teacher. We will become like the one we follow. Jesus gives us a choice. A choice to follow and become like him or, follow others and become like them.
We can check ourselves and to whom we are a disciple by monitoring our speech. In the book of Sirach we hear that one’s speech discloses the bent of one’s mind (Sirach 27:4) and Jesus tells us that, “from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45). If we are truly a disciple of Jesus, over time, as we learn from him, our minds and our hearts become more and more like his and the things we say become more and more like what he would say. Sometimes in the heat of the moment, our emotions can take over and speaking like Jesus can be a very difficult thing to do.
Sometimes we can feel betrayed by someone we love. Jesus was betrayed by someone he loved, by one of his own disciples. His response wasn’t to fight back but simply give himself over to the soldiers who came for him. As we become more like Jesus, in times we feel betrayed, we will shift our focus from ourselves, our disbelief, our anger, and our desire for revenge. We will speak forgiveness, maybe reconciliation, and move forward in life.
Sometimes someone we love can wrongly blame us for the misfortunes of their life. Jesus was unjustly accused. His response wasn’t to make an argument to justify himself but to be a witness to the truth. As we become more like Jesus, in times we are unjustly blamed, we’ll set aside our self-righteousness, refrain from the need to build convincing cases to justify our actions, prove someone else wrong, shout them down and cause division. Instead, we will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. When we do speak, it will be the truth spoken with mercy and tenderness and love.
Sometimes our burdens in life can be too much for us to bear. Jesus had a burden to bear, a cross, that was so heavy he couldn’t carry it himself. His response was to accept the help of Simeon to carry the cross together to the place he would die. As we become more like Jesus, we set aside our pride, our tendency to think, I’ve got this, I don’t need anybody’s help and instead realize our weakness. In our humility, we accept the help God sends us in other people to carry our burden with us. When we speak, we speak with gratitude and thankfulness.
Sometimes parts of us need to die. Jesus died, and before he did, he commended his spirit to his Father. As we become more like Jesus, we let go of our need for control and recognition. Those parts of us die and we place our lives in trust to God. God is all we need. We speak less about ourselves and more compassionately to the people we are with.
Out of all of these events that can be part of our life, betrayal, blame, burdens, and death, something new, and even beautiful can result from our facing them. Jesus encountered all this and rose to new life. From his suffering and death, came resurrection. As we become more like Jesus, we have renewed hope. Hope in resurrection, hope in new life. It is this hope that encourages us to endure all that life brings our way and inspires us to follow Jesus and become more and more like him. To speak with forgiveness, tenderness, mercy, love, gratitude, thankfulness and compassion, knowing something new awaits us.
We will become like our teacher. We will become like the one we follow. Jesus gives us a choice. A choice to go to him, listen to his words, act on them, and become like him or, follow others and become like them. Who are you following?