Rev.
Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.
PREACHING
AND PRACTICING, THE CHARACTER OF A GOOD LEADER
Leadership
is one of the characteristics of the human person, it is that which makes us
unique from every other creature. It is a gift from God by which we serve him
and our neighbour responsibly. But this gift often has been abused and misused
by people who were entrusted with the responsibility of leading others, just
like the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel passage today, who had the
responsibility to lead people to the Kingdom of heaven, but with their ugly
ways of life, they neither enter nor
allow those who want to enter to go in.
Hence,
Jesus told his disciples that since the scribes and the Pharisees occupied the
chair of Moses. They must therefore do what they tell them and listen to what
they say, but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practice what
they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but
they will not lift a finger to move any. Everything they do is done to attract
attention.
Here,
Jesus made it clear that we should listen to what the authorities are saying to
us. However, we should not be such people who do not put into practice what we
teach. So, as Christians, we need to start practising what we preach, we need to
do more witnessing than preaching. It is not enough to recall principles, state
intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic denunciation; these
kinds of words lack the real meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied
by effective action manifested in our way of life.
Thus,
Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, because, they misused the
gift of leadership entrusted to them. So, today we are called not to be like
them, rather, we should be humble, committed and responsible with whatever we
are entrusted with. Jesus made us to know that the greatest among us must be
the servant of all. Because anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and
anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.
Also,
from our Gospel, we need to acknowledge that our authority as leaders come from
God, for we are not to pride ourselves as rabbis, teacher, leaders, father,
mothers, priests, pastors and prophet in our name and capacity. Rather our
actions should reflect the paternity of God in the way we live and serve others
for it is God who allowed us to serve in his name. Therefore let us imitate our
Lord Jesus by loving and serving God and neighbours in simplicity of heart.
Little wonder, the Lord in our first
reading says: now, O priests and leaders of this world, this warning is for
you. If you do not listen, if you do not find it in your heart to glorify my
name, I will send the curse on you and curse your very blessing. But you, you
have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching and
actions. This should not be our portion and lot.
Therefore, let us learn from St. Paul who
said in our second reading: Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to
work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we
were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. For like a mother feeding and looking
after her children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you and had come
to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good
News but our whole lives as well.
Dear
friends, preaching the Word of God is not enough, we must learn to practice
what we preach. We must strive to follow the examples of our Lord Jesus in his dedication
and total commitment to God the Father, for he put into practice all of the words
he spoke to us. Teaching us that, it is not sufficient to speak, we must put into
practice what we spoke about. We must let the Word of God touch and shape our
lives. So, as leaders in different capacities,
we are called not merely to hear God’s word but to daily put it into action.
Let our actions reflect what we preach and represent.
Today,
can we be that good leader that humanity seeks to encounter in the world? A
leader who preach and also practices what he preaches, for that is the
character of a good leader. Sadly, the world is full of leaders with a Pharisaic
spirit of greediness, selfishness, pride and corruption. This is evident in the
ugly situation of war, genocide, chaos, coups, terrorism and kidnapping happening
all around the world. Today, we need leaders who will be truly servants of the
people at all levels of leadership beginning from the self to the family, to
societies and other levels where we may find ourselves. But what does it take
to be a good leader? Jesus says humility that comes from a humble heart that
wishes to serve and not to be served. A heart that understands that leadership
is sacrificial. Can I be such a leader in my family, in society and country?
LET US
PRAY: Lord God, humanity are suffering because of corrupt, greedy and selfish
leaders who occupy virtually every important position of leadership. As we
embrace your words today, may we become good leaders in our families, societies
and the world at large? We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.
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