WORD 2day: 19th September, 2017
Tuesday, 24th week in Ordinary Time
1 Tim 3:1-13; Lk7:11-17
Yesterday, I had reflected upon the leaders who are actually absent today in the world - and someone commented in return to me, 'is it not applicable to the Church and leaders in the Church too?'. And I responded saying: 'when I meant leaders, I meant leaders'. Yes, it was about leaders at all levels. And today we have a special instruction on being Christian Leaders or Leaders of a Christian community. It is not enough to be People of God, that is women and men of God, some are called to be a bit more!
Being women and men of God is one thing, which all of us baptised are called to be. Some are more intensely called to be women and men in God, that is people who are so soaked in God that they act like God, think like God and represent God to the rest. It is a call within a call - you got to be attentive if you have that call. These are the true leaders.
There are three important qualities pointed out and elaborated in details, in the readings today. These can form a set of criteria, a touchstone for true Christian leaders. The three qualities are: Personal Integrity (it all begins there!), Selfless Service (that is the crux of it all) and Limitless Mercy (it all moves towards that, for that is the image you imbibe when you are in God).