“The scribes and the Pharisees
have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you,
but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice....
Our leaders will always command our respect, and we will always want to respect them. However, sometimes leaders demand respect and we hesitate. I have worked confidently with leaders who wear their authority lightly. They hardly ask me to trust them, but I believe in them. Others, for personal reasons which I do not know and would not care to know, demand my obedience ; and my response is limited and provisional.
There was never a time when we did not need leaders. If human life was far simpler in one million bc, the hunters and gatherers still had to decide where and when to go hunting and gathering. The "naked ape" with neither fangs nor claws could not survive alone; why would they want to? If the prey were large, wily, or dangerous, they had to agree how to pursue and kill it. They could discuss the matter for days at a time until they arrived at consensus, or they could trust a leader to decide, direct, and command. If there was an immediate threat they had to stay together and resist, lest the predator pick them off one by one. Perhaps they said to one another, "Either you lead and I'll follow, or I'll lead and you follow. But if you won't do either, get out of the way."
The "natural leader" is the one who knows and expresses the spirit of the group. Skilled captains know the game and its rules, have sufficient skills to play, know the capabilities of each team mate, and respect their opponents. They also love the game. They move fluidly with the action, anticipate opportunities and resistance, and support their team mates, especially when they make mistakes.
Jesus criticized the religious leaders of his time for they "preached but did not practice." If they knew the Law of Moses, they did not know the Spirit of God. They looked to their own interests first, whether avarice, greed, fame, or security.The people, always eager for leadership, invested these unworthy persons with an authority they did not deserve. For some, their ambition was simply to lead regardless of where they were going, for they lusted after power. They could change their policies as readily as the wind shifts from east to west. If their position at the head of the people required them to cheat, steal, or crucify, they did it without hesitation. Such women and men will always plague the human race; millions of lives are impoverished and corrupted by their influence. In this Anthropocene Age, they threaten the Earth.
Jesus leads by God's Spirit. We remember the day of his "anointing" when we saw the Spirit of God descending upon him like a dove. We heard the Father declare, "This is my beloved son!" Those who are animated by the Spirit of God recognize him and "flock" to him. We are bound to him by the blood of his sacrifice. It flows in us, his body, as it flows in him, our head. We, his church, move with him as sheep follow their shepherd, as birds flock in the sky, with grace, freedom, and inspired joy.
Scholars tell us that the controversies of the gospels, especially the Lord's conflict with the Pharisees, actually reflected the challenges of the first century Church. Christians must struggle to find worthy leaders, even as truly inspired leaders try to lead the Church in the way of freedom. Even a casual reading of Saint Paul's letters reveals the struggle. To complicate matters, some of the most talented and "charismatic" teachers follow the wrong spirit; while the most inspired disciples have no following.
Today, in the wake of the Scandal in the Catholic Church, the gospel reminds us that we, the followers, are responsible for our leaders. We are commanded not to follow the example of unworthy leaders. We must pray that God's chaste spirit purifies the congregation as well as their leaders. It will never be easy to live in the truth and the challenge of leadership is a two-way street. We demand virtue of our leaders as they expect it of us. They should feel the heat of Jesus' anger in today's gospel, and be ready at every hour to hear a rebuke.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.