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.
