In The Shoes of Saint Paul

Our world needs role models. Young adults need someone they can look up to, someone or persons who can influence them, encourage them and help shape them. We used to call them trendsetters, today, they are known as influencers. Cultural development is how a society’s culture changes and grows over time. It includes things like how people communicate, how they express themselves in their creativity in art and music, how they celebrate traditions and what they believe in. Faith is a part of our cultural heritage.

Paul the Influencer

Saint Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. We could think of him as a modern-day influencer. In our Second Reading, Paul and his travelling companions Silvanus and Timothy address the community in Thessalonica. They describe passing on their faith, and beliefs, values and practices.

As a missionary for Jesus, I try to walk in the shoes of St. Paul. He writes, "You know what sort of people we were among you and you became imitators of us and of the Lord."

Being an imitator of Christ, it depends on how I present myself, how I communicate with others, and how I interact with those who I want to inspire with God's message.

My Three Points

Firstly, I should live my life in a way that would encourage others to want to follow my lead, to learn from my example, to ask, what inspires me, my life. The Letter continues: "receiving the word in great affliction, with joy from the holy Spirit."

Secondly, we have to deal with the substantive, the essential part, the reception of the divine word of our faith. Paul elaborates on this when he speaks in the joy of Holy Spirit of the worship of the true God and our salvation through Jesus Christ.

The third point comes when Paul goes on to write: “From you, the word of the Lord has sounded forth not only in Macedonia and in Achaia but in every place your faith in God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything."

It is easy to see that Paul finds great joy in spreading the word of faith and love. The beautiful thing is that it does not have to be him personally. Others can do it too. Paul is quite capable of passing on his mission to others with a sense of responsibility and at the same time, he is able to let go.

Summary

Let me summarize these three points briefly. As a person who tries to walk in the shoes of St. Paul:

I appreciate what is.

I share what deeply moves me, strengthens me, and challenges me.

And finally, I let go, because I have a deep trust in the path that God has laid out for me.

In these three points of appreciating, sharing, and letting go, we can constantly evolve and grow, becoming the best versions of ourselves in order to be role models for others.

Dear Friends

There is one role model in which we can orient ourselves. Naturally, no wonder - I am referring to Jesus Christ. Throughout his ministry, his person, his way of being, of living, his way of loving, and working for the salvation of humanity were repeatedly questioned. We just heard one example in today's Gospel. The Sadducees have gotten to a point where they could no longer challenge Jesus. Then, the Pharisees take over and try to challenge Jesus. They are scholars and know the Torah and especially the Halacha. The Halacha is that part of the Torah which deals with the written AND the oral interpretation of the Jewish religious law. They challenge Jesus with a question: "Teacher, which commandment in the Law is the greatest?"

Jesus gives them an answer that forever merges heaven and earth: "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment." This sounds good to the Pharisees but then Jesus adds something new, something equally important: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." With this double commandment of love, dear friends, you can no longer love God without also loving your neighbour. Jesus emphasizes it even more by adding: “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

After this point in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus questions the Pharisees about the Messiah and they can not answer. After that, they do not dare to ask him any more questions.

Amazed and Impressed

I am continually amazed, surprised, delighted, impressed, challenged, and sometimes overwhelmed in trying to understand Jesus. He continues to fascinate millions, even billions of people, around the world. For me, Jesus Christ is more than just a role model.

Jesus is the way to life; he is the truth that sets me free. He is the Son of God, my Redeemer and Saviour.

Our Role Models

We find many other role models who follow in his footsteps. We can find them in families, in school, in work, in leisure, in catechesis, hopefully in the church. In these role models: Despite all their trials and tribulations and their difficulties and challenges, there is something that remains alive and hopeful in them. It is a force that builds bridges. It is a love that merges heaven and earth.

I would like to give thanks to all those who are role models through their humanity, through their Christianity.

In the name of Christ, thank you.

Praise be to Jesus Christ – now and forever, Amen.