The Runway of Life

 

~~~ 2 Thes 3:6-10, 16-18 ~~~ Psalm 128 ~~~ Mark 6: 17-29 ~~~

The Memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist

 

Do you live up to your own expectations for yourself?

Are you concerned about living up to the expectations of others?

Are you sometimes confused about expectations in general?

 

Paul's letter to the Thessalonians sounds to me like

he had high expectations for himself.

It is reasonable to have higher expectations for yourself

if you know you are presenting yourself as a model.

 

"...Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us..."

 

But too many times people are modeled after

and their example is less than stellar.

How often do our young people strive to model themselves

after movie stars.

It is difficult today to find a movie star who is

living a life worth following.

The goal today seems to live the most sensational life you can...

the more extreme and outlandish you can be the better.

If you can stay in the headlines all is good.

 

Sometimes it takes real courage to live up to your own expectations.

It takes real back bone to do the right thing,

especially when you think no one is watching.

Then we have the pathetic story of Herod.

 

If he had any expectations for his own behavior we do not know.

It is obvious that that he was a weak man

as he could not stand up to a young girl.

He granted her murderous request because he was too weak

not to live up to her expectations of him.

 

Perhaps Herod never gave any thought to being seen

as a model for his invited guests.

But those in public office are by default viewed as a kind of model.

They often are a model of the society as a whole.

 

I sometimes wonder if we have any one left

with the character and integrity of St. Paul or John the Baptist.

 

"May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace at all times and in every way.
The Lord be with all of you.

This greeting is in my own hand, Paul's.
This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you."

 

I pray that we be led to those who are true models for the Lord.

For when we are exposed to those who honestly model

what it means to love and serve the Lord;

we are encouraged and strengthened.

 

 

You are a model for someone.

You are walking the on the Runway of Life.

What do they see when they look at you?

How are your actions showing them what you believe?