29th SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH
THEME: SERVANT LEADERSHIP: THE SOLUTION TO POWER PROBLEMS IN OUR WORLD
(Mark 10:35-45)
In a world where power and
influence has eaten deep into the bone marrow of many, we are invited to ponder
on the ideal sense of leadership, the true sense of power and indeed the right
definition of the leader as a minister. Jesus looks into and addresses those
who come to lead in the Society, in the Church, in the Community, in the
various organizations and in the Unions to see if they are coming to lead or to
Lord.
There is no peace in our world
today, no harmony and understanding, no development and progress in our States,
in Igbo land, in Nigeria, in Africa and other parts of the globe at large
because people have come to power with no genuine intentions. Why do you aspire
to be on the top? Is an underlying question today.
JAMES AND JOHN; POLITICAL ASPIRANTS
Was their intention genuine?
James and John represent the elites who aspire for one political position or
the other. They see themselves as "born to lead", they want to be
very close to the corridors of power. They want the best positions. They wish
to count themselves or be counted before others. They desire to be the 'primus inter paris' in their assembly.
This desire of theirs is not evil
in itself. Someone must be at the top. Someone must occupy those positions they
eyed. There must always be a leader for any organization to thrive. Why this
aspiration? What will they do with this power when they get it? These are the
questions. If the intention is to better the life of others, then it is good.
If the intention is to bring lasting solution to the plights of their people,
it is commendable. If the glamour is for the power not to enter into wrong and
wicked hands, then it is wonderful. If the longing to rule is to use the spirit
of Christ to save the people from crisis, it is noble. If the quest is to
deliver a generation from degeneration, it must be encouraged. If it is to
restore the true sense of the sacred and values erroneously redefined by the
secular world, then our Lord will be happy.
Why are our leaders and
leadership aspirants clamouring for votes and supports? Why have they refused
to leave the office even at the end of their tenures? Is it not to amass wealth
for themselves and their families? Is it not to use the powers in the office
they occupy to deal unjustly with their enemies, opponents, and critics of
their evil deeds?
IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU
Jesus observed with disgust that
His disciples were inordinately desirous of power and honour. He spoke to their
hearts: "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles
lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it
shall not be so among you"
It shall not be so among you that
you use your authority to impoverish the society. It shall not be so among you
that you favour some people and maltreat others. It shall not be so among you
that after condemning the excesses of past administrations, you go in and do
worse. It should never be so among you that when you get the opportunity to
take your people to their promised land, you betray them and sell their birth
right over a plate of porridge. It should not be said of you that you use the
blood of your people to lubricate your throne.
THE FIRST MUST BE SLAVE OF ALL
Jesus asked James and John: Are
you able to drink the chalice that I drink...? They said to Him: "We are
able." This chalice is the chalice of service. It is the chalice of
suffering. It is the chalice of thinking about the other person. It is the
chalice of sleeplessness for the common good. Jesus says, "whoever wants
to be great among you must be slave of all. For the son of man came to serve
and not to be served, and give His life as a ransom to many.”
If politicians and leaders at
different levels should know this truth concerning service and ministering,
they will stop seeing leadership as a lucrative business that pays. They will
think more about the service, the sacrifice, and the self-donation that is
involved in leading the people.
LET'S BE IN COMPETITION TO LOVE AND SERVE
Unhealthy competition among the
leaders and the led has set our people back so much. Destructive criticisms
have done so much harm to us. Leaders should learn to complement the good work
of their fellow leaders. The 'led' should appreciate their efforts when they
are sincere.
If we can direct our competitions
well, we shall make out something good from them. We will compete about who
will love the other more and not be unnecessarily indignant about our fellow
human beings. We will be at their service when the opportunity calls for that.
May God bless His word in our hearts.
LET US PRAY
Heavenly Father, we thank you for
revealing to us that humble service and sincere collaboration is the secret of
greatness. Bless our world with this word and heal us from the cancer of bad
governance that we are suffering through Christ our Lord. Amen
Happy Sunday (29th Week, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
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