2 Maccabees 6:18-31 / Luke 19:1-10
In life, we have our values and priorities, and whoever lives up to these values and priorities will certainly be our role models in life.
So if our values lie in strength and might, then we would certainly admire one who may have the strength of Samson.
If we treasure religious values, then we will admire people like Eleazar and Zachaeus in today's readings.
Eleazar was an old man, just the kind of person the persecutors did not fear, and even actually look upon in comtempt.
But the old man showed a deep religious strength, when he preferred to die rather than make a pretence of eating the forbidden meat.
His death summed up what his life was all about, as well as his faith in God.
Zachaeus was also a person looked upon with comtempt, not ony because he was a hated tax collector, but also because he was small in stature.
Yet, after his encounter with Jesus, he showed spiritual strength to change what was wrong in his life.
As we reflect on today's readings, it is good to wonder if we had ever been inspirations for others by our faith and by our values in life.
One of the highest human responsibilities is also one of the easiest.
And that is to inspire and encourage others by how we live our lives and our faith.
May we continue to fight the good fight, run the race to the finish and keep the faith to the end.