Our time on this earth is about 80 years, more or less.
Whatever length of time it may be, we have a contribution to make with our existence on this earth.
Some may leave a legacy, that is handed down from generation to generation.
But by and large, each of us will just leave behind a story of our lives, and that story may be a legacy.
The story that the scribes and Pharisees left behind in the gospels is a rather sad story.
Jesus said that they were like whitewashed tombs that look good on the outside, but inside are full of corruption.
Even what they did, like building the sepulchres of the prophets and decorating the tombs of holy men, did not change them from doing what their forefathers did.
But in the 1st reading, we hear of another story. It was a story of how St. Paul treated the Thessalonians as a father treats his children.
It was a story of how St. Paul taught, encouraged and appealed to them to live a life worthy of God.
That was the story and legacy that St. Paul left behind for the Thessalonians and for the Church.
May the story of our lives on earth be a life that was worthy of God and how we bore witness to the love of God for others.