May the Lord give you peace and health in the Holy Spirit.
It is 11th August 2021. We celebrate the feast of St. Clara of Assisi, Virgin. A noble lady who was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and began to live in cloister depending on the providence of God alone and bringing people closer to God through her austerity, simplicity, poverty, chastity and obedience.
We reflect on Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and the Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20.
We all are called serve while some of us are to lead by serving.
Some leaders emerge like a whirlwind and submerge like dust. Some others bubble gradually and rubble bursting with noises. A few leaders are called to lead serving without much recognition and in silence; such leaders are like Moses seeking the good of the people and making every effort to connect the people with God.
The resilience of a leader is noticed in the way he or she relates with God and radiates the same with the others in respect, love, compassion, and care repeatedly pleading to God for their safety, sanctity, and security.
The trait of a good leader is to depend on the one who entrusted the leadership, and to make the people independent in every aspect of their life. “Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” (Deut.34:10).
Moses was asked to lead people to the Promised Land. With the help of God, he led the people near the Promise Land and helped him to prepare a leader after him in the person of Joshua. It must be heart-wrenching for Moses to hear from God that he would not enter the Promised Land but to have a glimpse from atop of a mountain.
Jesus encourages to have a fraternal accountability and transparency towards others. Being responsible for others does not give a leverage to suppress the intentions, dreams and wishes of the others under the pretext care and concern. Just because someone does not adhere our proposals, plans and projects, we do not need to segregate them from the community. Talking heart to heart, head to heads, person to persons do not bring about the desired change in the other, we need to create a safe and sacred space for them to be themselves until they take their time to relook at it. Let us not rush to correct the other persons while we are dealing with our own fallenness and brokenness. It is good to remember our past and present state, not status as we are entrusted to correct the others. Better not to wash the feet of the others to pour it on them when they are least prepared.
Prayer bears fruit in the environment of unity, fraternity, and charity. “If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” (Mt.18:19).
May the Lord bless you to be gentle with others as we wish to be. Have a peaceful day. God bless you.