True Christian leadership

Good News ReflectionWednesday of the 21st Week in Ordinary TimeAugust 26, 2009
Today's Readings:1 Thes 2:9-13Ps 139: (1) 7-12Matt 23:27-32http://www.usccb.org/nab/082609.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_08_26.mp3
True Christian leadership
Today's first reading shows us what true Christian leadership is like. It means working "day and night" (i.e., endlessly and tirelessly) to serve, not burden, the Body of Christ. True Christian leaders serve devoutly, justly and blamelessly. The preaching of Christ is made real by living what we exhort others to do.
Putting this into context with the bigger picture of the full Gospel, we know that Saint Paul was not implying that we must work every day and night, without rest. We become a burden to others when we work too fast and too long and become too tired to remain devout, just, and blameless. Even Jesus took time off to have his energy restored.
Today's Gospel reading shows us what false (or tired) Christian leadership is like. What appears to be holy on the outside is merely a whitewashed wickedness. The light of Christ, which might actually be there, is blocked by wrong motives, pride, a desire to be superior and control others, and other vocation abuses. False Christian leaders mask the darkness within by painting themselves in white. It's an attempt to fake the light of Christ. Their own efforts will bear witness against them.
We are all called to be Christian leaders in one place or another, with vocations of serving the kingdom of God in our homes, our workplaces, our community, and anyplace else where we have the opportunity to set a good example. In everything, we are all called to be Christ's hands and feet and voice in this world, making a difference devoutly, justly and blamelessly, preaching not so much by what we say but more by the way we live the faith.
This is true whether we are a priest or layperson, the boss of a large corporation or the secretary who handles the needs of both employer and client, the head of a parish ministry or the person who cleans up after an event. And let's not forget that the vocation of marriage is to lead the world in understanding what true commitment is like; both spouses are commissioned by the Sacrament of Matrimony to be role models of God's relationship with his people.
As St. Paul said, the word of God must be at work in us if we're true believers in Christ. Do we really believe in HIS way of living out the message of salvation? None of us are perfect. Although we desire to be holy, we sometimes fail because of wrong motives, pride, and other abuses of our vocations. If we are not changed daily by the truth in the scriptures, if we are not transformed by the Eucharist, if we are not examining our consciences continually and seeking new ways to grow in holiness, then we slip into hypocrisy.
What will you do today to help others experience the forgiving love of Jesus? We won't be effective until we first humbly recognize our own need for forgiveness and experience this merciful love for ourselves.
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