Looking like Jesus

Sunday night I was at my college campus for an alumni Mass.  My brother was also there.  A few people made the comment that my brother and I look a lot alike and they could tell we were siblings.  This made me reflect on how we live our lives each day.  Do we look a lot like Jesus?  Can people tell we are Christians?

We should look a lot like Jesus, not physically of course, but rather in our character and the way we live.  We should look like Jesus in the way we love others and in the way we forgive.  We should also look like Him because of the joy we have, the peace we experience, and the humility we serve with.

We are all called to imitate Christ.  When we live as disciples, we are a reflection of Him to the world around us.  When we fail, we should ask the Holy Spirit to help us and to rid us of the traits that do not reflect Jesus.  When we choose sin instead of Jesus, we can go to confession to be forgiven and made new, giving us a new opportunity to be like Christ again the moment we walk out the door.

The way we respond to the events around us, the way we speak to others, and the general disposition we have on a regular basis should be different from the world and from those who are not Christians.  This is not always easy, but with a lot of grace and trust in God, it is possible, as long as we allow Him to transform our hearts and minds.

We all have different desires, some are good, others can become a distraction or be problematic depending on the priority we give to them.  Maybe we want to be successful, do well at our jobs, have a lot of friends, or just become better people.  Nothing is wrong with these desires, but they should not be the focus or priority.

We should all want to look like Jesus.  If people can look at us and see Christ, then we are on the right track.  People should be able to tell that we are Christians.

Dear God, we know we are made in your image and likeness and we thank you for the gift of our lives.  Help us to become like your son Jesus and give us the grace to be a reflection of Him in all we say and do.  We mess up and fail, but You have the power to transform us so that we can keep trying.  May we use our lives to show the world who Jesus is.  Amen.