18 October 2015: Twenty-nine Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)
Gospel: Please read Mark 10:35-45
Leadership through service....
In a democratic society, it is said that the people deserve whom they vote for in public office. Because they are free to choose their leaders, at least that is the basic principle in a democracy. We are reminded to reflect on these wise words, especially that we will be facing an election year in 2016.
How do we exercise our right to vote? Do you vote on the basis of what is good for the country, or do we go for candidates that can meet our personal and vested interest?
The Gospel this Sunday is a timely message on what true leadership is all about.
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, have the audacity to ask Jesus if they could be on Jesus' right and the other on His left when the Lord comes into glory. Obviously, the two apostles are talking about the positions of power and privileges.
At this point in our reflection, we cannot help to notice that in spite of the time that they were together, the disciples failed miserably most of the time during Jesus' public ministry at really comprehending His full identity and the Gospel way of life that our Lord proclaimed. This Gospel incident with James and John is a classic example of their failure to understand the teaching of Jesus.
Thus our Lord uses their proud, selfish question to teach the apostles about how God defines true greatness.
Jesus said to them: "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over
Let us have that again: to be great is to be servant, to be a leader is to be the slave of all! What do we make of this teaching?
First of all, we know that in His teaching and preaching ministry, our Lord Jesus is constantly turning upside-down various norms in our culture or traditional way of living that flow from our broken and damaged human nature, because of our greed and selfishness.
For example, the message of the Gospel today is that Christian leaders must take a different approach from what is conventional. Because Jesus is teaching us that to be true leaders must view leadership as an opportunity to serve, to sacrifice and to do what is truly best for those under their authority. At the conclusion of the Gospel reading, Jesus states very clearly that He Himself came not to be served but to serve, and to offer His life for the salvation of all. Thus, there is no better proof of greatness, leadership, or love than to lay down one's life for the sake of one's friends.
In other words, greatness or leadership through service to others, especially the "tsinelas" majority (i.e. the poor, neglected and helpless) in our society is our guide in choosing our next leaders in 2016. For it is the epitome of good governance.
The liturgical theme of "leadership through service" also blends well with our celebration of World Mission Sunday. We proclaim God's kingdom by sharing our faith and service to others. Let us pray for all missionaries in the world: priests and religious and lay people who share the faith throughout the world. May the Lord protect them from every harm and let them enjoy their rewards of apostleship here on earth and in the life to come. And let us pray that we become missionaries ourselves by witnessing and practicing our faith in our every day life situations. Amen.
A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.
Ad Jesum per Mariam!
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