Humility – Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

By e January 27, 2017 Jesus Stuff No Comments

I realized recently that I’ve fallen out of the habit of praying Cardinal Merry del Val’s litany of humility. It is doing me good to renew that habit. There is so much blessing in engaging in the struggle to learn how to desire humility, and to let go of fears and desires contrary to that aim.

The Litany of Humility was composed by the private Secretary of St. Pius X, Cardinal Merry del Val.

Lord Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, O Jesus

That others may be loved more than I, Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Lord Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Sitting in the Dark vs Walking Through it – Second Sunday of Ordinary Time (A)

By e January 20, 2017 Jesus Stuff No Comments

IS 8:23—9:3; MT 4:12-23

The thing that struck me as I reviewed this week’s readings is the difference between how we receive the referenced scripture in Isaiah vs the Gospel. Isaiah describes a people who walk in darkness. Matthew describes a people who sit in darkness.

Perhaps it is a matter of translation only, but if so, it goes back at least to Saint Jerome’s Latin Vulgate. The Greek Septuagint has the same translations, so the question seems to boil down to how Matthew chooses to communicate this concept of languishing in darkness. I am no scholar, and cannot legitimately even begin to hazard a guess as to the translation issues, or why the transmitted text differs from the apparent source, but I can comment upon what it means to me.

I’ve struggled the past couple of years to keep walking in darkness, and frequently succumbed to the temptation to just sit. There’s just no call for that. The sun of righteousness has risen, so the darkness I see around me is just a shadow. It’s up to me to get up and step into the light. That will require that I commit to walking in the darkness, and that I choose to walk towards the light.

I feel I’ve belabored this point the past few weeks, but I’m a bit dense, and it takes a while for it to really sink in. In any case, I am thankful that our lectionary cycle encourages me to start the year with a reminder there’s a great light, and that it’s up to me to choose to walk in it.

Moving on…

Chosen if we so choose – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

By e January 13, 2017 Jesus Stuff No Comments

Isaiah prophesies on behalf of the prophesied servant, the one who raises up God’s people and is light to not only them, but to all of the world. God’s purpose is that this servant will show God’s glory, so that even pagans in distant land might come to know salvation.

But there’s more to the story.

I don’t know why the fathers chose to only use the third, fifth, and sixth verses of Isaiah 49. I suppose it is to cater to our impatience, but there’s an important lesson between the lines.

Verse 4: Though I thought I had toiled in vain, for nothing and for naught spent my strength, yet my right is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God.

Paul speaks to those of us sanctified in Christ, and called to be holy. We, too, are known before our birth by the one who sees all of time, past, present, and future, as we see a painting or a tapestry. We, too, are called for a purpose.

To be holy, yes.

To be set apart for service to God for others and to others for God, yes.

But also for a unique role, for a unique service, because there is no other person who ever has lived or ever will live our life.

And we, too, sometimes feel that we’ve toiled in vain, for nothing. That we’ve spent our strength and have nothing to show for it. That we are abandoned.

Perhaps we are misunderstood, maligned, or unappreciated.

Or our business crumbles.

Or we work just to pay our debts.

Or our children break our hearts.

Or our spouse betrays us.

Or we hurt ourselves and those we love with our many failings.

But the Lord is faithful, and he has chosen us.

He wants to answer, to help, and to, through us, restore the land and the heritages by the sins of fathers (and mothers… but largely fathers). He wants to say to prisoners come out, and to those who hide, show yourselves.

He wants to put a new song into our mouths.

God wants to pour grace upon us, and peace that only he can give.

Am I willing?

Will I, like Jesus, allow the Holy Spirit to remain upon me?

Will I open my ears to hear him, and obey?

Will I learn to make his will my delight, and allow him to write his law of love upon my heart?

Will I announce his good work in my life before the vast assembly?

Will I come to do his will?

“The Word of God became flesh and dwelt among us. To those who accepted him, he gave power to become children of God.”

It is not in vain that we labor. There is power to fill up what is lacking in our strength, and more. He has chosen us, and wants to pour that grace and strength upon us.

If we choose to allow him.

Leadership Lessons in the Luminous Mysteries – Institution of the Eucharist

By e January 12, 2017 Jesus Stuff, Leadership and Management No Comments

If you missed the introduction and first mystery, you can find that article here: https://blog.euphemos.com/2016/12/15/leadership-lessons-in-the-luminous-mysteries-baptism-in-the-jordan/.

The second mystery is here https://blog.euphemos.com/2016/12/22/leadership-lessons-in-the-luminous-mysteries-wedding-at-cana/.

The third mystery is here https://blog.euphemos.com/2016/12/29/leadership-lessons-in-the-luminous-mysteries-proclamation-of-the-kingdom/.

The fourth mystery is here https://blog.euphemos.com/2017/01/05/leadership-lessons-in-the-luminous-mysteries-the-transfiguration/.

Institution of the Eucharist

The story, for those unfamiliar: The Jews celebrated a feast called Passover to remember the time that they were “passed over” and spared from the death that visited their Egyptian captors. As a result of this event, their ancestors were freed from slavery, then wandered about the wilderness for 40 years before settling down and experiencing their glory days of self-rule and prosperity. Jesus gets his disciples together to celebrate it a bit early in the year that he dies. They borrow a room, and he welcomes them to the feast by taking the role of the lowest servant to wash their feet (also a part of ordination ceremonies). His lead disciple, Peter, tries to decline the washing, is reprimanded, “gets it”, and concedes gracefully, even suggesting his head and hands should be washed also. They celebrate the feast together, and Jesus announces that he’s changed the feast for them, and that they should celebrate it from now on remembering him. He declares that the bread and wine they consume are his body and his blood. Jesus instructs them to love one another as he’s loved them. He prays for unity among his followers, then is lead away captive to suffer and die.

See a need, and meet it

Above all, this mystery offers another example of how a leader looks for needs, and meets them.

Foot washing was a routine part of hospitality, but since Jesus and his closest companions are borrowing a room, and there are apparently no servants at hand, this traditional (and practical – people reclined horizontally to eat, so feet were near your neighbor’s upper body) practice is overlooked. Seeing the need, Jesus doesn’t hesitate to fill it, even though it is beneath his dignity.

A leader looks for practical needs, and fills them.

Jesus knows his imminent death will present incredible challenges to these 11 men who would assume leadership, and carry on his legacy. He offers a fresh perspective and meaning to a familiar ritual feast as a source of strength for the future. Knowing they will not have access to him in the same way as before his departure, he empowers them to meet this need, encouraging them to continue this ritual after his departure.

Jesus not only sees his disciples’ immediate need, and meets it, but also foresees and makes provision for their future need.

A leader looks for both immediate and future needs, and strives to meet them. The leader provides a fish for the moment, and teaches their team (and successors) how to fish for the future. No need is too mundane (foot washing) or too sublime (mystical ritual of presence) – the leader is willing to fulfill both.

Plan for succession

Although foot washing was a social ritual, it was also a religious ritual. The process of ordination to the Levitical priesthood included washing all over once (and hands and feet repeatedly thereafter), anointing with oil on the head, and with blood on the head (ear), hand (thumb), and foot (big toe). This same pattern of head/hand/foot anointing was applied to cleansing rituals, such as that for a leper. (Exodus 29; Leviticus 8; Numbers 8; etc.) Peter gets it, recognizing that this is not only (although it is that) a social ritual and example of humility, but a sacred ritual of cleansing and of being set apart for service to God on behalf of others, and others on behalf of God.

Like Jesus, a leader needs to both explicitly (Jesus instructs his disciples to follow his example in the ritual meal and washing), and implicitly (the reference to the ordination ritual that only Peter seems to get), plan for succession. The leader needs to set an example that can be followed, but can’t simply assume that successors will “get it” – expectations need to be clearly and explicitly communicated. Furthermore, Jesus shows how an outgoing leader presents themselves as a servant to their successor(s). Even in this case, where the outgoing leader will assume a significantly greater role and responsibility, the leader is the servant of their successor in matters proper to the successor’s role.

Show sincere affection

In addition to a spirit of humility, Jesus shows sincere affection for his followers. He mentions that he has been “eager” to celebrate this feast with them, and discusses that they should love one another to the same superlative degree that he has loved them. He is not manipulating them with cheap compliments, but sincerely affectionate and loving towards them. His love is not shallow and self-serving, but deep and sacrificial.

As leaders, this is challenging. How do we hold and express this deep and sacrificial love for our teams? How do we do so without seeming creepy? 🙂

Jesus doesn’t seem to worry about that…

This is my flesh… this is my blood… that definitely borders on creepy.

Jesus isn’t worried about this because he slowly built up a relationship with these people. He called them from their previous work and relationships, and, over a period of approximately three years, taught them to trust him by demonstrating his character and deep concern. By the time of the institution of the Eucharist, they’re ready, and it isn’t creepy at all.

I can’t just jump into this. It takes time and consistency for this love to develop in my own heart, and to build the trust that makes an authentic expression of that love appropriate and acceptable, even in a professional environment.

summa summarum

Jesus established a social network that’s endured for nearly two thousand years, and his life and teachings are seemingly inexhaustible. All in all, I know I’ve barely begun to scratch the surface of the lessons Jesus presents as I strive to grow as a leader. I’ve omitted so many important topics (e.g. how he values and encourages unity), and done poor service to even those I’ve attempted to consider.

I’ve wandered some from my original attempt to present these lessons in a matter more palatable to an irreligious, agnostic, or atheistic audience, and for that I beg your pardon.

In any case, all in all, I hope you’ve found some tidbits of value in these articles, and are inspired to consider Jesus’s lessons on leadership for yourself.