20210825 SELF-EXAMINATION OF A CHRISTIAN LEADER
25 August, 2021, Wednesday, 21st Week, Ordinary Time
First reading |
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 © |
We slaved night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you
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. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.
Responsorial Psalm |
Psalm 138(139):7-12 © |
O Lord, you search me and you know me.
O where can I go from your spirit,
or where can I flee from your face?
If I climb the heavens, you are there.
If I lie in the grave, you are there.
O Lord, you search me and you know me.
If I take the wings of the dawn
and dwell at the sea’s furthest end,
even there your hand would lead me,
your right hand would hold me fast.
O Lord, you search me and you know me.
If I say: ‘Let the darkness hide me
and the light around me be night,’
even darkness is not dark for you
and the night is as clear as the day.
O Lord, you search me and you know me.
Gospel Acclamation | Mt4:4 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Alleluia!
Or: | 1Jn2:5 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said,
God’s love comes to perfection in him.
Alleluia!
Gospel |
Matthew 23:27-32 © |
You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets
Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers’ day.” So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’
SELF-EXAMINATION OF A CHRISTIAN LEADER
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [ 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Ps 139:7-12; Mt 23:27-32 ]
Being a Christian leader is perhaps the most difficult form of leadership in the world, unlike those in the corporate or political world where leaders are only expected to show results, particularly economic growth, and prosperity. So long as the aspirations of people are satisfied, money, pleasures, freedom, and peace, that leader can be considered successful. It does not matter very much what he does in his personal life, or the way he brings down his opponents, or even if he is corrupt. People in general are just concerned with key performance indicators.
A Christian leader, on the other hand, is expected to not just do well in the ministry and produce results, such as conversion rates and increased membership, but he is expected to be a role model in the way he lives his life, and conducts his relationship with God and the community. The moral conduct of a religious leader is paramount in all that he does. Even if he were the most eloquent preacher, teacher, administrator, organizer, if his moral life is put in question, then everything collapses. All that he says or teaches would immediately be discredited. No one would believe in him anymore. Hence, when a Christian leader is convicted of a criminal offence, such as moral misconduct or a lack of integrity, he loses all credibility as a leader.
That is why St Paul in many of his letters took pains to defend himself from slander and attacks from both the Christian leaders and some members of the community. He faced opposition and defamation from the Christians at Corinth, Galatia and in Thessalonica. In his letter to the Corinthians, he said, “We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way.” (2 Cor 6:3) The letter to the Thessalonians is no exception. They were accusing St Paul of neglecting them. They charged him for preaching the gospel from “deceit or impure motives or trickery”, or just to please and gain favour from some powerful and rich people. They accused Paul of using “words of flattery or with a pretext for greed” and “seeking praise from mortals.” (1 Th 2:3-6)
In the gospel, Jesus too, in His Seven Woes condemned the religious leaders for being hypocritical. Earlier on, He condemned them for not practicing what they preached, doing things for show to gain attention, seeking honour and glory, wanting to be respected and recognized by people, manipulating the laws of God, and interpreting them in a legalistic way so that they could avoid being true to the Spirit of the Law, not practising justice but focusing on less weightier matters. Today’s last two woes sum up all that Jesus wanted to say about them. Jesus said, “Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Last but not least, they have perpetuated the sins of their fathers by ignoring and killing the prophets of God. They pretended to take the law of God seriously and honour the prophets. Jesus said, “you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men. You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets!” Jesus saw through their external actions into their hearts and He indicted them for the most serious of all sins, hypocrisy, pretending to be what they were not.
What about us as Christian leaders? Before we reject the criticisms of those who speak ill of us, we must honestly examine ourselves. The truth is that as Christian leaders we are tempted to spiritual worldliness, which is even more devious that mere worldliness. Spiritual worldliness is the desire for the world masked as religious works and activities. We seek to impress others, making ourselves look holy to the rest of the world. Yet, underneath the good works, there may be ulterior motives. Like all men, Christian leaders seek popularity, approval, and acceptance. Some look for personal gains, money, pleasures, riches and power. So those criticisms hurled at the religious leaders during the time of our Lord and those levelled against St Paul and his fellow leaders are nothing new. These same temptations to glory, power, wealth, and popularity, do not stop when we are holy and influential. In fact, just like Jesus, the Devil would tempt us all the more by offering us, greater fame, influence, riches, and power.
St Paul today helps us to search ourselves as to whether we are credible Christian leaders and whether we are leading from sincere and noble motives. Firstly, he spoke of the courage to suffer for the sake of the gospel. “You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.” (1 Th 2:2) A leader who seeks popularity will shy from speaking the hard truths and doing what is right. The ability to suffer for the right thing is the first criterion of a true leader.
Secondly, the care we have for our people, as if we are their parents, loving them as a father or mother loves his or her child. St Paul wrote, “We were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.” (1 Th 2:7f) We must care for them by giving them encouragement and love. But we are also called to be fathers to them as well. St Paul wrote, “You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom.” This is why priests are called “Father” because we are called to be spiritual fathers to God’s people. We must never forget that to be a father entails the need to form, which means sometimes having to call people to repentance and discipline. We are to be firm but never harsh. Yet, to avoid guiding our people in the truth is to neglect our duty as fathers.
Thirdly, we must work for them without using them for our needs. “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.” St Paul worked as a tent-maker whilst proclaiming the gospel so that he would not have to burden the Christian community with financial help. Also, it was because he did not want to be obligated to anyone, as so often is the case because many people do not give money to the church unconditionally, but treat the church as their client so that the church becomes obligated to them.
Fourthly, as leaders we must remain impartial. “You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair.” Impartiality is important to win respect from the members. When a leader favours some persons over another or one group over another, there will be division, jealousy, and resentment. Only a leader who cares for all, irrespective of race, language, or status, can truly be said to be a Christ-like leader who has no fear of man but only God.
Indeed, when we act in this manner, then our people will see us as credible leaders. Like the Thessalonians, when they hear the message that we bring to them, they will accept it as God’s message “and not some human thinking.” Only then will it become “a living power” among those who believe it. Credibility in teaching presupposes credibility in living.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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