Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

 Thirty First Sunday of the Year, A – November 5, 2017.

Readings: Malachi 1:14b-2:2b; Responsorial Psalm Ps 131:1.2.3;

 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13 & Gospel Matthew 23:1-12.

Theme: Taking Lessons in Humility & Servant Leadership!

Introduction

Friends in Christ, our liturgy this Sunday invites us to take lessons in humility and servant leadership. We shall weave this reflection around the last paragraph of the gospel which says: “The greatest among you must be your servant” and, “anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:11&12). This homily shall highlight the linking points of the readings while attempting to draw lessons in humility and servant leadership.

What Constitutes Humility and Servant Leadership?

On the one hand, humility is an inner disposition and decision to consider others before oneself. It entails self-emptying to enrich others. On the other hand, servant leadership is self-abnegation even to the point of death for the sake of others. Servant leadership is the modeled kind of leadership epitomized by Christ. By his life and teaching, Christ was a servant leader par excellence. The dramatic washing of his disciple’s feet and the teaching that followed on Holy Thursday (John 13:1-17) has remained a metaphor for service in the Church. To be sure, servant leadership is the basis for religious or ecclesiastical governance.

This is why scholars like Ngara (2004) insist that servant leadership entails that: 

1.         The leader exercises authority on behalf of the people; 

2.         Allows participatory and sometimes collective decision making;

3.         Is accountable to the people and accepts constructive criticism;

4.         Is not self-seeking but exists to serve the people;

5.         Gets support by influencing people, not through coercion.

Therefore, humility is a necessary ingredient of servant leadership. You cannot be a servant leader without being a humble person.  

Connection of the Readings to the theme of Humility and Servant Leadership

In the first reading (Malachi 1:14b-2:2b), to drive home the message of humility, the Lord warns priests of highhandedness. He accuses them of causing many to stumble by their teaching and also destroying the Covenant of Levi. The reading fingers arrogance as responsible for making men of God to shortchange the message and give bad example or better put, cause scandal. It goes ahead to suggest humble fidelity as panacea for profaning the Covenant of Old.  

In response to the scandal which the first reading talks about, St. Paul and his companions deferred from the priests of old as the second reading (1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13)  relates. Rather than scandalize the flock, they demonstrated humility and servant leadership to the Thessalonians. St. Paul insists that they looked after the flock like a mother feeding and looking after her own children. What is more, they were devoted and protective towards them. This they demonstrated by handing on the Word of God as well as laying down their lives for the sake of the faithful.

As a matter of fact, they did not want to lay any burden on the people they were ministering to. That is why they had to work hard to survive. The apostles were also grateful to the Thessalonians for their eagerness in accepting the Word of God for what it is and “not some human thinking.” Apparently, the people were touched by their openness, hard work and humility as well as servant leadership. That was why the message of God began to bear fruits in their lives.

The gospel (Matthew 23:1-12) resonates with the first and second readings. In the gospel, Jesus lambasts the Scribes and Pharisees for pontificating in places of honour. He goes ahead to dislodge their pride by telling the people to obey what they say and not be guided by what they do because in his words: “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they!” Jesus sums up the teaching on humility and servant leadership in the following words: “The greatest among you must be your servant” and “anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Lessons in Humility and Servant Leadership

Our liturgy challenges us to:

1.      Learn from Jesus, a leader who had vision and purpose - who walked the talk and demonstrated commitment through courage and tenacity;

2.      Ask him to help our contemporary leaders to learn from his school of humility and servant leadership;

3.      View religious or ecclesiastical governance in the light of servant leadership which is a torch that illuminates self and others in the way of humility and suffering humiliation for the sake of others;

4.       Embrace self-emptying as an exemplary style of leadership which taps from Christ’s meek nature to enrich others;

5.       Situate our priests, religious and bishops in perspective for learning from Christ who came to serve and not be served and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). 

6.      Learn from Christ, the New Adam since through pride, the gate of paradise was shut but through his blood, the gate of heaven is open to all who imitate him.

Application to Pastoral Context

1.      From a theological perspective, bishops and priests assume leadership roles in the Christian community by virtue of their office. This is why they must be committed to fulfilling their function as servant leaders by providing vision, inspiration and direction to the faith community as well as pastoral ministry (Schwartz cited in Cozzens, 2004).

2.       In a society where some people are excited to see priests fall, Ministers of the Word and Sacraments must make conscious efforts to keep their heads high by not causing scandal or teaching anything contrary to the gospel.

3.      They must also shun arrogance which makes men of God to shortchange the gospel – rather, they should look after the flock like a mother feeding and tending her children.

4.      Since Christianity was built on humility and servant leadership as the crucifix reveals, the lay faithful must desist from the habit of giving priests and religious traditional chieftaincy titles which places them over and above the people and robs them of the grace and benefits of being true servants of God.

5.      Those who do essential services as health care workers, security agents and pastors of souls must always remember to work in humility for the betterment of mankind and the glory of God. 

6.      Just as Jesus always distinguished himself by caring for those at the margins of society, contemporary leaders must always put the interest of the masses first even if it means washing their feet in terms of demonstrating humble service.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1.      The greatest among you must be your servant (Matthew 23:11).

2.      Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12).

3.      Pontificating in places of honour like the Scribes and Pharisees smacks of pride and arrogance.

4.      The dramatic washing of his disciple’s feet and the teaching that followed on Holy Thursday (John 13:1-17) has remained a metaphor for service in the church.

5.      Servant leadership is the modeled kind of leadership epitomized by Christ - By his life and teaching, Christ was a servant leader par excellence.

Conclusion

Beloved in Christ, we are called to seek the Lord in humility. The scripture says: “God opposes the proud but favours the humble” (James 4:6). I urge you all to pray for our spiritual and temporal leaders so that God would touch them to embrace the servant leadership exemplified by Christ who came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). 

All of us are leaders in our homes, places of work or the larger society. As such, we must learn the humble disposition of children which Jesus says is a perquisite for making heaven (Mark 10:15). The much needed peace in the world can be achieved if we deliberately make efforts to serve one another in humility. May God grant us all the grace to always take lessons in humble service to God and humanity. Amen.