Doing It His Way

Homily for Friday of the Fourth Week in the Easter

One of the more popular songs that is chosen by people who are auditioning for the various talent shows on television these days is one that was made popular by Frank Sinatra. “I did it my way.” The opening lyric of that song speaks of the end of life. “And now the end is here and so I face that final curtain.” To a large extent, the culture of the Western world buys into the ethos of the rugged individual, the man or woman who faces the challenges of life head-on and simply does not give in or show any sign of weakness in the face of those challenges.

As we listen to the “I AM” statement in today’s Gospel passage, we might want to ask ourselves whether the Christian should not be singing of doing it “Your Way.” If we place our faith in Jesus, it means that we accept the fact that his way is the way to eternal life. In fact, every great conversion story involves a person coming to the realization that while they may have been living life their way, being a disciple of Jesus means doing it his way.

Herein lies the struggle. It is so difficult to let go of control of one’s own life. In fact, as we do an examination of conscience, we might find that “doing it my way” is often what leads us to sin. The more my heart becomes more like the heart of Jesus - having his care for those who suffer, and his mercy on those who sin, and his courage in proclaiming his good news - the more easily we stay on the path of eternal life. The more we try to compromise, and do things independently from the Gospel, especially with judgments and self-preserving limits on my heart's compassion and generosity, the more we stray from the path, the way to eternal life.