Bible
Study: Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5B-9, 28. / Matthew 13:36-43.
When we
talk about leadership, our minds often go quickly to people in high positions
of authority such as the President, Governors, Senators etc. But the fact is
that there is a whole world of difference between holding a position and
actually being a leader. Leadership is all about influence. It is the ability
to make people act or think in a particular manner even without them realising
they are being led. Leadership is all about influence. According to Robin
Sharma, you do not need to have a title to be a leader. (Guess you may have
read his book “The Leader Without a Title”).
The Parable
of the weeds given by Jesus is basically Jesus’ own way of speaking about
Leadership as influence. The good seed represents those of us who believe in
God and are children of the kingdom while the weeds represent the children of
the world who love to perpetuate evil. As much as we live side by side with
evil doers, we are supposed to be leaders in our own little capacities, but
quite often, we are too timid to stand up for what we believe, too timid to
live out convincingly the tenets of our faith, too timid to keep the
commandments of God. This is why evil is so rampart in the world today.
Moses was
a great leader. He was able to positively influence an entire nation and call
them off from following the path of idolatry. Upon returning with the stone
tablets, Moses could have decided to keep his mouth shut and join the people if
he was a timid leader or one easily influenced or pressured like Aaron. Moses
could have wondered “who am I to face an entire crowd?” or he could have lived
by the dictum: “if you can’t beat them, join them.” Single handily, Moses was
able to make the people see the evil in their action and repent.
Great
leaders are prayer warriors. They do not act alone or by themselves. We see
this in the life of Moses who would constantly go into the tent of Meeting to
consult with God. As a leader, (we all are leaders), you must have a place of
meeting. Leadership involves power and power comes from God. If you are not in
tune with God by daily prayer, adoration, visitation to the Blessed Sacrament,
you are basically powerless.
Again we
see another quality of leadership in Moses; the fact that he was able to train
a successor in the person of Joshua. Joshua did not suddenly become a leader,
he was with Moses for a long time as an assistant and intern. Even while Moses
went into the tent of meeting, Joshua would be with him there and remain in the
tent.
A great
leader cares about his people. He prays for them. He intercedes for them. He is
not so concerned about title or respect but about the welfare of his people. It
is not about what he or she stands to gain but what the people benefit by his influence.
“For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”
Let us
pray:
Lord
Jesus, equip me each day to be a better leader that through me, many more may
come to know and follow you. Amen.
Good
morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God
bless you.
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