Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
I watched a documentary last week that, among other things, related the story of the Jonestown massacre back in the 1970’s. I remember when this happened but had forgotten many of the details. Frankly, the story still chills me. The most intriguing (and frightening) part is wondering how one person could convince so many to follow him without reservation, brainwashing them even to the point of participating in mass suicide. I began reflecting on how important—sacred—is the role of leadership in the life of every single Christian. Whether we find ourselves in an official leadership role or not is really beside the point. One of the most pressing responsibilities in the life of any Christian is to point others—lead others—to follow Jesus. Just as God chose some of the most unlikely candidates for the most significant leadership roles, each and every one of us, by virtue of our baptism in Christ, is asked to ‘lead’ others, in some way or another to follow Jesus Christ.
Today’s first reading is from the Book of Exodus. Moses is leading the Israelites out of their slavery in Egypt into the desert when they suddenly realize they are being pursued by Pharaoh and his army. The Israelites plead with Moses to let them return to the ‘safety’ of slavery in Egypt rather than die in the desert in pursuing a life of freedom. Moses admonishes them, “Fear not! Stand your ground, and you will see the victory the LORD will win for you today.” God commands Moses to continue onward and uses Moses’ leadership not only to guide the Israelites but to demonstrate to the Egyptians that there is only one God—“The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I receive glory through Pharaoh and his chariots and charioteers.”
In today’s Gospel from chapter twelve of Matthew, Jesus reprimands the Pharisees for their continued obstinacy despite the fact that a clear is sign right in front of them. Jesus, referring to the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba, points out that the pagans are more capable of recognizing the true God than the Pharisees themselves are. In this case much of Jesus’ frustration and anger is a result of how these prideful, hard hearted leaders demand that the people follow them; their rigid, prescriptive behaviors only led the people further from the one true God. It is entirely possible to find ourselves in this same position if we place anything above following Jesus. Sadly, the story of Jonestown is an extreme example of this—following a leader who did not follow Jesus. The most crucial component of every Christian leadership role is to always, always point others to Jesus…to follow Jesus Christ.
The life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus would have meant something very different if not explicitly to lead to the salvation of others. Likewise, when the stories of our own Christian lives are told, their true measure will be determined by how we led others directly to Jesus and the salvation Jesus offers to us all. When the gift of faith is bestowed on us personally, it is only the beginning of our story in Jesus. With the support and encouragement of our faith community, we honor and nurture this personal gift only by sharing it with others. This day, even if it is only in a small way, may we take concrete action to lead those we encounter to an encounter with Jesus.
--Gail Lyman