20250114 LEADERSHIP WITH AUTHORITY
First reading | Hebrews 2:5-12 |
The one who sanctifies and the ones who are sanctified are of the same stock
God did not appoint angels to be rulers of the world to come, and that world is what we are talking about. Somewhere there is a passage that shows us this. It runs: What is man that you should spare a thought for him, the son of man that you should care for him? For a short while you made him lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and splendour. You have put him in command of everything. Well then, if he has put him in command of everything, he has left nothing which is not under his command. At present, it is true, we are not able to see that everything has been put under his command, but we do see in Jesus one who was for a short while made lower than the angels and is now crowned with glory and splendour because he submitted to death; by God’s grace he had to experience death for all mankind.
As it was his purpose to bring a great many of his sons into glory, it was appropriate that God, for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists, should make perfect, through suffering, the leader who would take them to their salvation. For the one who sanctifies, and the ones who are sanctified, are of the same stock; that is why he openly calls them brothers in the text: I shall announce your name to my brothers, praise you in full assembly.
Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 8:2,5-9 |
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
How great is your name, O Lord our God,
through all the earth!
What is man that you should keep him in mind,
mortal man that you care for him?
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
Yet you have made him little less than a god;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hand,
put all things under his feet.
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
All of them, sheep and cattle,
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish
that make their way through the waters.
You gave your Son power over the works of your hand.
Gospel Acclamation | Jm1:21 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept and submit to the word
which has been planted in you
and can save your souls.
Alleluia!
Or: | cf.1Th2:13 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Accept God’s message for what it really is:
God’s message, and not some human thinking.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Mark 1:21-28 |
Unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority
Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.
In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.
14 January 2025, Tuesday, 1st Week in Ordinary Time
LEADERSHIP WITH AUTHORITY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [Heb 2:5-12; Ps 8:2,5-9; Mark 1:21-28]
God is so gracious in creating human beings and giving us the honour of being next in line to Him. In the letter of Hebrews, the author, citing from Psalm 8 wrote, “What is man that you should spare a thought for him, the son of man that you should care for him? For a short while you made him lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and splendour.” This is also echoed in our responsorial psalm. Indeed, the dignity of human beings is truly a grace of God. We are given authority over everything on this earth. We are called to share His authority over creation. This is what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God. “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” (Gn 1:28)
However, we have been poor stewards of God’s creation. The situation in the world today shows that instead of helping God to protect and grow creation, we are destroying the planet earth and its inhabitants, including fellow human beings. We have abused creation and used it selfishly for ourselves at the expense of plants, animals and the good of our fellowmen. The author is cognizant of this reality when he wrote, “You have put him in command of everything. Well then, if he has put him in command of everything, he has left nothing which is not under his command. At present, it is true, we are not able to see that everything has been put under his command.”
Indeed, what is lacking today is strong, exemplary and enlightened leadership. True and real leaders are very few in the world today. Some leaders are just good and capable in their professional fields, but beyond their expertise they are not leaders in life, in love and truth. Today, leaders are seen in a functional way. They are there to perform a task. This explains why some leaders can be very good in organizations skills, counselling, administration, strategizing, preaching and teaching, but their lifestyles contradict what they do in public life. It is a sad reality that today’s leaders, whether political, corporate, community or religious, have lost their credibility and authority to lead. Instead of instilling and evoking trust from those they lead, they are seen with great suspicion and distrust. Without trust, how can leaders lead effectively? This explains why leaders who are exposed for their hypocrisy, can no longer lead.
How can we regain the authority of leadership, an authority that does not need to depend on our office but on our personality? In the letter to the Hebrews, we are told that Jesus is our leader in salvation. “As it was his purpose to bring a great many of his sons into glory, it was appropriate that God, for whom everything exists and through whom everything exists, should make perfect, through suffering, the leader who would take them to their salvation.” Jesus is the perfect leader that all leaders are called to imitate and all are called to follow. This is because, as the gospel says, “his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.” Jesus was the only credible leader in His day that taught with authority, unlike the religious and political leaders of His time. They found Jesus different from the leaders that they knew. Jesus must have stood up as a charismatic leader who taught effectively, so much so we read that “his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.”
What is the secret of Jesus’ leadership? Firstly, we are told that Jesus knew Himself. A leader must have self-awareness. He must know his identity and his motives. A leader without self-awareness often causes much harm to others. If we do not know our identity, our purpose and direction in life, how can we help others to find life, meaning and purpose. This explains why when the devil sought to expose Jesus’ true identity, Jesus silenced him immediately. Jesus did not need the devil to reveal His identity. Hence, when the devil said, “‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, be quiet! Come out of him!'” This was the same temptation in the desert after His baptism. The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'” (Mt 4:6f) In commanding the spirit to come out of the man with authority, Jesus showed His authority because He acted from His being as the Son of God.
Secondly, Jesus knew His motive and was clear of His mission. Why did the devil want to proclaim Jesus’ identity to the people? Wouldn’t that work for Jesus’ mission? His work would have been made easier to have the devil introduce Jesus to the people as the Holy One of God. But that would be a cheap victory and cheap victories do not last. This is true in daily life. If you want to learn, you can check the answer first and then try to solve a mathematical problem. But that kind of learning will not be a real discovery. We learn best by going through the trials of life. When people do the work for us, we never learn. Indeed, the devil wanted Jesus to have a quick victory. He even offered Him at the beginning of His ministry, the kingdom that He was called to establish. He brought Him “to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.'” (Mt 4:8f) Jesus knew that conversion of the people must come through a gradual understanding of His mission, teaching and His identity. There are some things that we cannot rush through. This is particularly true for those wanting to be baptized. Some ask to be baptized after three months of instruction in the faith because they do not want to wait too long to attend RCIA classes. This is the problem of the Church today, because we have too many half-baked, ill-formed Catholics.
Thirdly, Jesus was a real leader because He walked with His people. The letter of Hebrews made it clear, “For the one who sanctifies, and the ones who are sanctified, are of the same stock; that is why he openly calls them brothers in the text: I shall announce your name to my brothers, praise you in full assembly.” Jesus is a leader not by sitting on the armchair and directing others how they should live their lives. God could have saved us from afar, sitting on His throne in heaven. But He chose to empty Himself in His Son, Jesus, who assumed our humanity and is one of us and one with us. He went through the same trials and temptations like anyone of us. He too had to suffer like us. “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” (Heb 5:7-9)
Fourthly, Jesus walked in front of His people. It is not enough for a leader to be identified with those whom he leads, but he must always walk in front of them like a shepherd leading his flock. Jesus said, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (Jn 10:3f) In other words, a leader must show the way and lead the way. Again, the letter of Hebrews says, “but we do see in Jesus one who was for a short while made lower than the angels and is now crowned with glory and splendour because he submitted to death; by God’s grace he had to experience death for mankind.” Indeed, Jesus submitted Himself to death so that He could overcome the power of death over humanity. It is the fear of death that cripples humanity and makes them live recklessly and selfishly only for this world, for themselves, because they think that life ends at death. But with death overcome by His death and resurrection, Jesus shows us that death is the last enemy to be destroyed so that life could come. (cf 1 Cor 15:24-26)
So today, if we seek to be credible leaders and truly regain our identity as the sons and daughters of God, and good stewards of His creation and people, then we must come to Jesus, reflect on Him so that we too will learn the true meaning of sonship, leadership and stewardship in the world. We must know ourselves more and more, examine our motives, our focus and our purpose in life. Only then can we be like Jesus in leading our brothers and sisters into glory so that they can find fulfilment and happiness in life. By so doing, we find our happiness.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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