Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

  - 1 Corinthians 11.1

Among other evidences of holy life, he gave his clergy an inspiring example of self-discipline and continence, and the highest recommendation of his teaching to all was that he and his followers lived as they taught.

  - Bede, Ecclesiastical History, British, 8th century

Bede was writing about Aidan, first Abbot of the monastery on Lindisfarne, and a “graduate” of Colum Cille’s training school on Iona. Like nearly every other graduate of that program whom we know about, Aidan set an example of godliness, discipline, careful teaching and scholarship, and fervent mission. Those he trained grew up to be like him, as Bede admiringly observed.

They were doing nothing more than following the example of the Apostle Paul, which he commends to every one of us. We are to imitate Paul, in his imitating Jesus. As we do, others will then have something in us to imitate that could lead them to the higher ground of the life of faith.

Imitation is not simply the highest form of flattery. It’s a very potent instructional tool. So important is imitation to learning that Peter and Paul insisted that Christian leaders should make good use of their personal example in helping others to grow as followers of Christ (cf. Acts 20.18-21; 1 Pet. 5.1-3).

I wonder how comfortable we are at just this moment in recommending ourselves as models of discipleship? “Follow me? Imitate me?” What is the next generation of the followers of Christ learning about discipleship by observing us?

This is the pattern and the paradigm God has established in the Church. Faithful men and women teach others, who teach others also, and prominent in that teaching is the exemplary life of discipline, holiness, service, mission, and love (2 Tim. 2.1, 2; Phil. 4.9).

If we aren’t there, we should at least be asking ourselves, “Why?” What’s keeping us from such an exemplary life? What is hindering us from taking our places in that long, unbroken chain of disciples who have shown others the way to follow Jesus, all the way down to our day?

These are questions worth reflecting on often in the New Year ahead. If we will take these questions seriously, perhaps we will begin to prepare and position ourselves for just such a way of life, a life of living exactly what we teach, and teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom without apology.

Psalm 26.1-3 (Aberystwyth: “Jesus, Lover of My Soul”)
Vindicate me, Lord on high; I have walked within Your Word.
Never wav’ring, though I sigh, I have trusted You, O Lord.
Prove me, Lord, prove even me! Test my heart and try my mind.
Let Your steadfast mercy be in the path for me to find.

Lord, make me a discipler of others, for Jesus' sake!

Happy New Year!
We look forward to serving you, the members of The Ailbe Community, in new and more effective ways in the coming year. Look for new publications, new opportunities for growth, and a new thrust to help men grow in their faith and prayers. Thank you for your prayers and for referring others to our ministry. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding how we may serve you better. Visit our website to catch up our latest columns, including the third installment in a series on poetry as a vehicle for theology on the part of Celtic Christians.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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