I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And the life that I now live in my body, I live by faith, indeed, by the faithfulness of God’s Son, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Reflection
Growing up, I wanted to be a thousand things: a teacher, a marine biologist, a doctor, a singer, an astronaut. But what all those very different dreams had in common was that regardless of occupation, I wanted to be the BEST. In whatever I was doing, I wanted to achieve maximum greatness. If I’m honest, sometimes I still do.
The motivation is not all bad. Regardless of my role, I want to be the very best person, friend, wife, family member, and pastor I can be. But as most of us know – the noble quest to live into the very best version of ourselves can (if we are not careful) quickly become a slippery slope of unhealthy competition, perpetual dissatisfaction, and the very mistaken and damaging internal belief that to be valuable… to be loved… to be considered important in this life, we must be the BEST. Otherwise, what good are we to anyone?
Our identities are shaped by many different assumptions, roles, and values we have been taught over a lifetime. Especially in our western culture, most of them boil down to what we can achieve for ourselves or for those we love.
Yet, the writer of Galatians reminds us that our identify is not achieved but received.
It is no longer I, but Christ who lives within me.
As Christ followers, our identities and priorities are not meant to be driven by the world’s definitions of success, failure, and identity. Our opinions of one another should not be determined by these either. As difficult as it may be, we are defined by and called to define one another through the lens of Jesus’ love and sacrifice for all of us.
You are valuable because Jesus says you are.
Your neighbor is valuable because Jesus says they are.
Full stop.
To be crucified with Christ – and to allow Christ to live through us – means that we will commit to seeing and honoring Christ in us and in each other. Our perceptions should change, and love should grow. John Wesley called this process of growing in love “sanctification” – a slow changing of our habits and perceptions overtime, so that love becomes our first priority.
The call to Christians in every season is to become a little less like us, and more like Christ in everything we do. It’s a tall order and we will do it imperfectly. But we are called to try every day.
by Kate Monahan
For Pondering and Prayer
In what way have you failed recently to see Christ in yourself or in someone else? Take a few minutes to ask for forgiveness, and that you might see how Jesus would.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone
who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone
who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Prayer of St. Patrick
