Reflections on Leadership

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 -- Week of 3 Epiphany, Year One
John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, 407

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (Book of Common Prayer, p. 944)
Psalms 45 (morning) 47, 48 (evening)
Isaiah 48:12-21
Galatians 1:18 - 2:10
Mark 6:1-13

Like several facets of a colorful gem, we get several views into leadership and service in today's readings.

Psalm 45 is written to celebrate a royal wedding. It is easy to imagine its being read in various settings where a king is marrying a princess, probably in a political union between tribes or families or nations. It has very secular sounding themes -- militaristic and patriarchal. It seems more suitable in worship if it is read as a poem to celebrate Christ's the bridegroom's wedding with the Church his bride.

The oracle from Isaiah declares God's glory as the first and the last, whose right hand spread out the heavens. Now, says the prophet, God has anointed Cyrus, the Persian King. "The Lord loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and my arm shall be against the Chaldeans. I, even I have spoken and called him, I have brought him, and he will prosper in his way." In the Name of God, the prophet tells the people, "Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, ...say 'The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!" As in the Exodus from Egypt, God will lead the people out from their oppression and protect them through the desert. Pay attention. Get up and move from bondage to freedom!

God chooses a leader who is not of the faith and tribe of God's chosen to be the instrument of their deliverance, Isaiah tells us, and God tells the people to be resolute in leaving their exile to return to their true home.

Paul's letter to the Galatians traces his own apostolic authority. Paul claims that his calling and authority does not come from human beings, it is from God alone. God called him and he responded. He did not confer with "those who were supposed to be something" (the literal Greek for what the NRSV translates "acknowledged leaders") until Paul had been working and teaching for fourteen years. Then he went to Jerusalem. With him was Titus, one of his companions in his work -- an uncircumcised Greek. The Jerusalem council, including Peter, James the brother of our Lord, and John -- "acknowledged pillars" -- "gave to Barnabas and me the right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised." Paul asserts his God-given and human-acknowledged authority as an apostle, endorsing his call that welcomes non-Jews into the fellowship without requiring them to become Jews, to be circumcised, or to follow the Law (Torah).

Finally we have two snapshots of leadership from Mark's gospel. Jesus returns to his hometown on the sabbath and teaches in the synagogue. The people take offense at him. Where did he get all this? After all, he's just one of us. Why does he raise himself above his modest standing? "And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief." Jesus' leadership and power is blocked by the attitudes of his neighbors. Even good and authentic leaders can face resistance and their work be thwarted.

Then Jesus sends his disciples out two by two. They are given authority. They travel lightly, taking less than the wandering Cynics in their back-to-nature philosophy. If they meet resistance, Jesus tells them to shake it off and move on. Their work prospers: "They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them."

Several reflections on leadership. Conventional royal power. An unconventional foreign agent of God's work. A call for a community to move decisively. A claim of divine calling, which has the endorsement of acknowledged leadership, even though it doesn't need that endorsement to be real. A rejection of authentic leadership, and a successful mission undertaken with economy.

There is not one way to lead. Results are not always linear or just. Authority has various manifestations. God uses people for God's purposes. How has God called you? How does God use you? Do you face obstacles? That's not unusual. Trust God, and follow with faithful courage. God has many ways to accomplish God's purposes.

Lowell

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About Morning Reflections
Morning Reflections is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this location -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html


The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Visit our web site at www.stpaulsfay.org

Our Rule of Life

We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Lowell Grisham, Rector

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, Arkansas