Readings
I - Is. 53: 10-11
II - Heb. 4: 14-16
III - Mk. 10: 35-45
LEADERSHIP IS SERVICE - A PARADIGM SHIFT
The styles of leadership in management are: Autocratic (one man show); Democratic (decentralised authority); Free-Rein (does not lead and avoids power) and Paternalistic (conducts as a head of a family). In the Gospel passage today, Jesus proposes ‘Servant Leadership’ modelled after his own life as prophesied by Prophet Isaiah in the first reading. The leadership of Jesus is based on love, kindness, gentleness, meekness, humility and service sans power, pride, prestige, glory, honour, geed, might and arrogance. Jesus gives a paradigm shift from the leadership style of the Pharisees and the scribes who considered themselves great and lorded over the people to, “whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be a slave of all (Mk. 10:44)”.
We may consent or will to empower a servant or a slave but would never wish to become one to lead people. Service is suffering and painful. Suffering inflicted by the very own people whom we have opted to serve. It could be our own family members, friends, neighbours, colleagues at the work place and the subordinates. We might have to endure their misunderstanding, betrayal, abandonment, withdrawal, neglect, coldness, physical and verbal abuse, rumour, disrespect, vengeance and hatred as our lot and reward for our sincere service. At those moments, fear and failure may envelop; discouragement and depression may overpower and defeat and dejection may try to conquer pushing to verge of ‘give up’. At those moments look up to Jesus - the suffering servant of Yahweh who in every respect has been tested as we are but never sinned and who is able to sympathise with our weakness. As the second reading proposes, “Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). May our mind our heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord Jesus, make me like you”.
