Mr. Hammond’s Chapel Reflection Podcast – September 9, 2009 – Christian Leadership
Welcome to the Saint Patrick Catholic School chapel reflections podcast. Brought to you by principal Steve Hammond, this week’s reflection meditates on what it means to be a Christian leader.
A transcript of this reflection is provided below.
Your Role as a Christian Leader
Good Morning!
Faith and Wisdom: Fides et Sapientia. This is our motto on our heraldry, our school crest. We are a people of faith, always seeking wisdom. We see the world through the eyes of faith in Christ and, within Christ, we seek and find wisdom.
But it is not always easy. And that is the point of next Sunday’s Gospel.
As we prepare to listen to the Gospel from the eighth chapter of Mark, let us ask Christ to forgive the time we have not followed his word, his example, his Way.
Lord, for the times, when we have not listened as carefully as we should have and therefore did not hear your wisdom, R. Lord have mercy.
Christ, in our lack of understanding from not trying to discern your Way, R. Christ have mercy.
Holy Trinity, in the sheer joy of knowing that you are with us always and forgive our transgressions for the asking, R. Lord have mercy.
Heavenly Father, Christ, our Brother and Spirit, our Advocate, open our ears to the Truth and help us find your wisdom this morning in this reading from your disciple, Mark.
Please stand and pay close attention to Mark’s account of a remarkable event in the life of Jesus.
Reflection:
First, what is the question Jesus asks his disciples in today’s Gospel?
Who do they say I am? And who DID they say Jesus might be?
And who did Peter say that Jesus was? The Christ.
And what does the “Christ” mean? Messiah, Savior.
Yes, the Messiah! The one who would restore the Kingdom of Israel. The one who would bring salvation to Israel. What they did not know and could not have known at the time, that Jesus’ Kingdom was not of this world, it was not and is not a brick and mortar place. The kingdom that Jesus proclaims is far grander than that. Far more beautiful. Far more expansive. Far more powerful.
What is Jesus’ Kingdom? It is the Kingdom of Love, of Compassion, Of Empathy, of Mercy, Of Forgiveness.
And where is Jesus’ Kingdom?
Yes. Inside us. In our souls. In our hearts. In our minds. But, also in the community we share. The Kingdom is in the very LOVE we have for each other.
That is why at Saint Patrick Catholic School, we always treat each other well. We look for ways to help each other.
At the end of Mark’s Gospel reading, Jesus said that he would have to be rebuked, reviled, suffer and die at the hands of the elders. Then Peter did something that Jesus would not stand for. What was it?
Yes. Peter said that this wasn’t so. He might have told Jesus that he and the apostles would not let this happen. Maybe Peter told Jesus that Jesus shouldn’t let this happen. Peter was certainly acting out of concern and love for Jesus. But Jesus would not stand for it.
Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan.” He called his friend, his disciple, the person who he would put in charge of his Church….Satan. He called Peter…Satan! There is much to learn from Jesus in this Gospel.
First of all, the price of leadership is not easy. All leaders will suffer criticism. But leaders know that going into their leadership. It just goes with the territory. Jesus was reviled by the leadership of his own people.
Can you think of some leaders in history who suffered criticism?
Leaders listen very carefully. They pay attention to the information people are sharing. In this case Jesus paid close attention to what Peter was saying. He didn’t agree with him, but he paid close attention to him.
Who listens to you carefully?
Leaders find their beliefs and then set boundaries. They know what they will stand for, and what they won’t stand for. There is a song that goes, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Leaders stand for something and know what they stand for.
What are the boundaries that you set or want to set in our life?
You are called to be leaders with Christ and in Christ. And it won’t always be easy. Know that and know that it is OK.
The version below was found written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta. It indicates how being a Christian isn’t always easy but provides an answer for the Christian response in the face of adversity.
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
As leaders with Christ and in Christ, Listen to others. It is the first way to show respect. This is simply what we do at Saint Patrick Catholic School. Listen carefully to others view points. You will agree with some and others you will not agree with. But seeking wisdom starts with listening. Talk less; listen more. That’s why God gave us two ears and only one mouth!
Be slow to anger or refuse to anger.
Finally, once you have heard all sides, find your core beliefs and set your boundaries. Ask your parents to help you. Your beliefs start at home. Your mother and father will guide you. Ask your teachers. They are very wise as well. Ask your pastor or priest, they have studied wisdom all their lives.
Once you set them, get a plan to live by your beliefs. Set boundaries. President Obama yesterday encouraged students to get a plan for their own academic success. That sounds familiar, doesn’t it? We speak of success planning often at our school. I would encourage you have a plan in all areas of your life. In your academic, in your faith life, in your relationships, in your physical life, in your servant-leadership life.
Let’s recap: We help achieve our Christian leadership by:
1. LISTENING, 2. DISCOVERING YOUR BELIEFS, 3. SETTING BOUNDARIES AND 4. DEVELOPING A PLAN TO LIVE BY THOSE BOUNDARIES.
Leadership in Christ is not always easy, but it provides great freedom, a foundation to live life in faith and wisdom. And that is what we are all about!
