Commentary on the Gospel of
Copycats
René Girard, a cultural anthropologist, speaks of our desires being imitative: Because we have no idea what to desire, we copy the desire of others and end up in a mess. The daughter of Herodias has no idea what to ask for. So she runs to her mother, borrows her mother’s desire, and is left with a bleeding head! We squirm at her stupid choice as much as we grieve John’s loss of head. But aren’t we copycats as well? When God offers to fulfil our grandest desires (“How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” Lk 11:13) we end up looking to those on our left and right, copy their desires and ask: “Lord, give me a car; a job; lots of money; 15 minutes of fame.” What a shame! What a waste of an opportunity of a lifetime!
