Jesus is a model easy to imitate. As I make my way through life I shall find myself in widely differing circumstances, making contacts with people whose characters vary enormously. Now, no matter where I am, no matter what the task in hand may be, no matter what contingency befall, I can always turn my eyes upon Jesus and discover Him similarly placed and showing me by His example the most perfect way for me to react.
If I am crushed with loneliness, I can kneel near the lonely Christ in Gethsemani; if joy fills my heart, if everything seems to be going well, I can remember how He too "rejoiced in the Holy Ghost" because divine truth was revealed to "little ones" by His Father. If I move in the turmoil of a busy street, if people call and make many demands on my time, I can see this model so overwhelmed with crowds that they were treading upon each other, so occupied with them in their many needs that "there was not time to eat." When I pray, I learn how from His example. When congenial people are with me, I think of Him with His special friends - His "own" twelve, or the family at Bethany. When unpleasant people come and their boorish ways are about to ruffle me, I check myself from any sign of impatience as I see His exquisite selfpossession when heckled by Pharisees and scribes, when narrowly watched and unjustly criticized.
Holidays come, and He and I share them, for I know He planned an occasional outing too, as when He invited His friends to come away with Him "apart," all by themselves. Simple enjoyments He will surely bless, for did He not sanctify the rejoicings at Cana, and did He not sit down to the great banquet which Zacheus got ready for Him?
Thus does this model always move before my eyes. The question, in every set of circumstances, always is: How would He act if He were here? How would He reply to this insulting letter? How would He answer this appeal? How would He speak over this phone to this very trying person at the other end? How would He bear this sickness? If He were sitting beside me at this show, how would He behave? Is it a show such as He might enjoy?
Thus does Jesus become for the true Catholic his greater self, filling the whole horizon of his daily life. Jesus, a new day is beginning. Shall I not try to walk in the light given me here in this morning prayer, looking at You and learning from You how to act and think and speak in each different set of circumstances in which I shall find myself?