*IMITATE/*IMITATION
Satan has always tried to imitate whatever God does. (Beginning of the End, p111)
It was because of his obedience unto death that God had raised him up to a specially exalted status and given him the divine title of Lord (kyrios). If Jesus had not been a human being, there would be no hope for us. There would have been nothing meritorious in his life if he had been God by nature, nothing for us to imitate. It was by comtemplating Christ's life of perfectly obedient sonship that Christians would become divine themselves. By imitating Christ, the perfect creature, they too would become "unalterable and unchageable, perfect creatures of God". (Hist, p110)
Imitating Christ requires interior emptying of our spirit through faith to allow Jesus to awaken within us. It means openness to receive God's gracious self-communication that ultimately heals our sinfulness and transforms us. (Purif, p92)
Christian insight meditation involves imitating Jesus' self-emptying on the cross and disposing ourselves to be moved in all that we do by the Holy Spirit. We continue trying to control the outcome of all that happens in our live, close our hearts to neighbors, fear failure, and cannot manage our selfish impulses, we recognize that our heart is still far from pure and that our transformation is going to take some time. This awareness does not cause us guilt or discouragement. It only helps us realize how strongly we resist transformation and how deeply rooted are the effects of originally sin in our soul. We become more aware of our absolute need for God's love to heal and transform us. (Purif,
p180)
"Imitation of Christ" is 4 books written by Thomas Kempis (1379-1471) between 1420 and 1427 may be the 2nd most widely read Christian book. He lived in a monastery for 72 of his 92 years. The four books are:
1 - Useful Reminders for the Spiritual Life
Following Jesus' example, we might teach and heal and rebuild by day
but at night retreat into the quiet of our hearts for deep, intimate prayer;
with God at the center, all we do will flow from Him,
and all we do will be for the love of him. (Imitation, p27)
2 - Suggestions Drawing One toward the Inner Life
3 - Of Inner Comfort
4 - The Book on the Sacrament