I Am A Role Model

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A

Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.  Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9

I remember a number of years ago when NBA star, Charles Barkley emphatically stated, “I am not a role model!”  It was literally a game changer as millions of boys were used to looking up to their favorite athlete in admiration.  Sometime before Barkley’s comment there was the Nike ad campaign that stated “I want to be like Mike” after NBA star, Michael Jordan.  Numerous boys could echo that comment.  Others wanted to be like baseball greats, Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron.  My childhood hero was Roger Staubach, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1970’s.  I wanted to be just like him.

What happened to those days?  Why do more and more celebrities identify with Charles Barkley in not wanting to be a role model?  To be fair to Barkley, his point was largely that parents need to be role models to their children.  But why didn’t he want to be one?  And why is he not alone?

I think this line from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians can shed some light on this idea.  St. Paul regularly used himself as a role model for others to follow.  It wasn’t an egotistical thing either.  It was common in his day for a teacher to use himself as the example for his students to follow.  How else can people learn unless they have role models?  To the Corinthians St. Paul wrote, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” [1 Corinthians 11:1].  To the Philippians he wrote, “Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an example in us,” [Philippians 3:17].  Then again in the passage before us he emphasizes that the Philippian believers are to do exactly as he taught them by his own example.  Who of us would dare to say something similar today?

And that’s the point.  Like Charles Barkley, none of us wants to be held up as a role model.  It’s too big a role to fill.  What happens if we fail?  No one wants that kind of pressure.  But Paul willingly took it on and a number of saints have followed in the same vein.  What has happened to us?

First, I would propose that the problem lies in this: that we have not followed the examples that went before us.  Numerous saints are held up to us as examples to follow, but we don’t.  In fact, we sometimes are prone to take pride in the fact that “I’m no saint.”  It sounds akin to “I’m not a role model.”  But God intends that we should follow the examples of the saints.

What do we learn from looking at the lives of the saints?  We learn to deny ourselves, to trust in God, to give to those in need, to live lives of virtue, prayer, and service.  This is the pattern that was presented to us as worthy of imitation, but we have largely left it alone.

If we have not followed the pattern that was handed on to us then it is no wonder that we feel inadequate to model it for others.  So what should we do?

Let’s return to Paul’s statement.  “Keep on doing what you have learned…”  What have we learned?  We have learned the way of Christ which is the way of the cross.  We have learned to deny ourselves and lay down our lives for the good of others.  This is the way of love.  It’s not merely some ideal.  It’s what our Lord calls us to do.  It’s what He expects of us.

“And received.”  What did we receive?  We received Baptism, and along with this we received the Faith of Christ.  We received God’s grace to enable us to resist sin and live holy lives.  All of this was given to us as a gift from God.  What have we done with these graces?

“And heard.”  What have we heard?  We have heard the good news of Jesus Christ: that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our sins against us, but offering us freely the opportunity to become the sons and daughters of God.  Are we listening to that message?  Are we sharing it with others so they can hear it too?

“And seen in me.”  What have we seen?  We’ve watched, as it were, the saints throughout history abandon wealth so others could become rich.  We’ve watched them pour out their lives even to death so that eternal life could be brought to the world.  We’ve watched the grace of God at work in our own lives, for which we have much to give thanks.

If we follow the pattern of those who have gone before us and walk in the way of the cross, which is the way the Church teaches us, then we will have true peace because the God of peace will dwell with us and remain with us.  Everyone craves peace, but few find it because they look for it in all the wrong places.  Only God brings true peace.  And the line of that peace coming to us is in the example of the saints who have gone before us.

But what about the next generations?  Who will be the example for them?  Each generation is in need of a new “incarnation”, that is, they need to see a living example of the things Jesus taught us.  Who will be that example?  Will we do it?  And if we don’t, then who will?

It’s scary to be in the place of an example.  Yet, this is the place God calls us to be in.  He calls us to be patterns for our children, our neighbors, our co-workers, our family, other parishioners; in short- to everyone.  We need to daily seek this grace from our loving God who is more than willing to supply all the grace we need.

Take some time today to reflect on the examples God placed in your life.  Perhaps it was your parents, or a priest.  Maybe it was a family friend, or a school teacher.  Maybe it was a co-worker who modeled Christ to you and brought you into the Faith.  Whoever it was, take some time to reflect on their example and thank God for sending them to you.  Maybe even send them a quick note to thank them if you can.  Then ask the tough question: “Am I ready to be an example to others?”  Probably not.  No one is.  But God will supply the needed grace.  Trust Him and move forward.  Then you will not be afraid to boldly proclaim, “I am a role model!”