Power and Authority For Servant Leaders

First Reading: Is 53:10-11

The LORD was pleased to crush him in infirmity. If he gives his life as an offering for sin, he shall see his descendants in a long life, and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days; through his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16

Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Gospel: Mk 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. Jesus summoned them and said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection

By: Marky Vertido

Election season is coming not only in the Philippines but also in the United States. As Democrat Obama and Republican Romney battle for the world’s most powerful position, the Philippines will also stage once more the most colorful election in the world. And the color never fades as politicians once more forget the past and ally with enemies. Gradually, the television is starting to show early campaign advertisements by the so called “epal” politicians and soon we will see and hear their jingles everywhere.

Even during the time of Jesus, politics and power were already a dividing factor in Israel. While Romans were ruling over the Israelites, the Israelites themselves rule over other Israelites. And these “rulers” seek self-righteousness and self-satisfaction only. It is one of the reasons why Jesus, the Messiah, was incarnated so that Israelites and all the nations be united not for power and riches but for God.

James and John, sons of Zebedee, show how politics and the aim of power have blinded them to recognize the real purpose of the Messiah. They wanted to have power as the right and left hand of Jesus. It shows then that they have never really understood Jesus. In a time when Israelites are being enslaved by Romans, they have seen the Messiah as one who will revolt to remove the Romans and rule the land soon. So Jesus challenged the two and told them that He is not the one to give either the left or the right position to anyone for it was already prepared by the Father to those who were chosen.

Jesus took the opportunity to teach the disciples the meaning of authority. Clearly, those who wish to be great will be the servant of all. And those who wish to be the first will be the slave of all. “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give life as a ransom of many.”

The readings this Sunday all pertain to the true meaning of leadership and authority. It provides us the qualifications needed as we select those who will lead our nation soon. First, a true leader must be God’s “servant who shall justify many, and he will bear their guilt.” Second, we are looking for a leader who is able “to sympathize with our weaknesses” and who was “tested in every way, yet without sin.”

These are very ideal but God will give us the person who shall possess the following. We only need to be very sensitive to recognize that person. The Church in the Philippines would call a true leader as a “servant-leader.” This is the advocacy of the Church  and achieving it is still far from reality.  We can say today that we have good government but when will this last? How about our religious leaders and the laity, have they really realized what it meant to be a servant-leader already?

As we renew our faith this Year of Faith, let us find the real meaning of serving and leading the people who were entrusted to us. Today, we also celebrate World Mission Sunday, let us recognize our mission as heirs of the Kingdom of God to live the Gospel in every way and to evangelize through our examples.

This kind of missionary life was exemplified to us by our very own St. Pedro Calungsod whom the Church through Pope Benedict, raises him to the altars today. Giving us an example of giving one’s life to save others. Let everyone who seeks power and authority be driven in accordance to the Word of God. And let this start with our young generation so that the transformation of our society will continue.

Commitment: Serve faithfully and enthusiastically in any situation we are in.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you for the gift of having St. Pedro Calungsod as our second Filipino Saint. Give us also the virtues that he possessed as Your servant. Let the missionary zeal ablaze in our hearts also that we may respond to our brothers and sisters who are need. Guided by the Holy Spirit, help us in rebuilding our nation. With Mary our Mother, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Respect, Responsibility, Love and God

First Reading: Gn 2:18-24

The LORD God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a suitable partner for him." So the LORD God formed out of the ground various wild animals and various birds of the air, and he brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each of them would be its name. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of the air, and all wild animals; but none proved to be the suitable partner for the man.

So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman, ' for out of 'her man' this one has been taken. "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife

and the two of them become one flesh.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

Second Reading: Heb 2:9-11

Brothers and sisters:

He "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels, " that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. He who consecrates and those who are being consecrated all have one origin.

Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them 'brothers.'

Gospel: Mk 10:2-16

The Pharisees approached Jesus and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?" They were testing him. He said to them in reply, "What did Moses command you?" They replied, "Moses permitted a husband to write a bill of divorce and dismiss her." But Jesus told them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh.

Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate." In the house the disciples again questioned Jesus about this. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.

Reflection

by Mark Vertido

In the life of the Church, the month of October is one of the most colorful months aside from December. It is celebrated as the month of Mama Mary, the month of the Holy Rosary. But this year, October marks the start of the Year of Faith, celebrating fifty years of the Second Vatican Council. Thus, I will focus our Sunday reflections in the light of both celebrations.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus clearly states our doctrine on marriage and divorce. Simply, Jesus does not approve in any way the concept of divorce. And as such, the Church had stated its position on divorce ever since. In the Philippines, a number of groups are opening again the passing of a divorce bill with their arguments of giving a better life for the wife and her children since the marriage cannot be fixed already. The idea is noble in its own respect but I believe that there is a nobler way to address this problem that has affected many families in our society, leaving them broken.

As I teach Filipino Family and Family Values System in college, my conviction that the condition of the family reflects that of society has become more concrete. Why is this so? Primarily, the family is the basic unit of our society. Now, as we try to observe the things that are happening in our society as reflected by main stream media, the concept of real family and marriage life has changed. Watching “telenovelas” will reveal how the media wants to manipulate the sanctity of marriage. It is interesting to note that the theme of some shows is that anyone can sacrifice the marriage just to follow what the heart dictates. I do not categorically include all shows but there are a majority of these.

These shows and other forms have promoted a mentality among the people of how to deal with unhappy relationships. But they fail to show the real meaning of being in a relationship and so as more in married life. We have seen stories of getting married because of what we call ‘love at first sight.’ Or that of young people who get into pre-marital sex then marries each other. There might be some who advocates a getting-to-know each other relationships or respecting each other relationships but never been the focus.

Media is one of the most powerful factors affecting the behavior of people nowadays because of the fact that many are extremely addicted and reliant to “telenovelas”. So it is not already surprising that many families experience being broken because of the order of our traditions have been modified already. This problem is likened to a grown tree that is very difficult to uproot because the roots are embedded deeply. And we know already the causes of unsuccessful marriage and the effects it brings to the couple and the child.

Reflecting from the experience of my own parents, although, I would also be open to say that my father had a past relationship but not legally bound and they had a son. So I was the first born of my father to my mother whom he wedded. Their story is like Romeo and Juliet also but because I was formed then they needed to be with each other for the rest of their lives. Yes, I am a product of that pre-marital thing but I thank them that they wanted me to live. I grew up in a normal family; we may not have everything but we are happy. What I observed is that my parents have respect and love for each other. They help each other to raise the family. There are times of misunderstanding but I never seen my father lifting a hand to hurt my mother. There is respect, responsibility and love between them and they continue that until today, passing 22 years now.

Jesus, Himself, was in danger of growing in a broken family when Joseph wanted to divorce Mary but when Joseph was enlightened he accepted everything and raised the Holy Family. This was because the Holy Family was guided by God. I cannot imagine a missing father in the Holy Family and Mama Mary as a single mother. The Holy Family is an example for every family.

Today, some couples do not recognize God as the third partner of the marriage that is why everything goes wrong. So I would conclude that the keys to successful marriage are respect, responsibility, love and God. Jesus sets the rules and we must follow. God has given an example to couples and they must imitate it. Our society needs to be fixed and the key to this is a healthy family but then the key to a healthy family lies with the couple.

The Year of Faith focuses on the New Evangelization which includes the use of media and technology in proclaiming the Gospel to the people of God. It is hard to stop the main stream media but it is possible. Each of us as part of the Church needs to work to bring back what was broken in our society. Let us start from our own families, and then let us evangelize others through media and technology.

Commitment: Be faithful in any relationship that we have.

Prayer

Lord, bless every family on earth. Guide couples to recognize You in their life. Give them the strength to surpass all conflicts and misunderstanding that may arise in married life. Strengthen families that we may proclaim Your Name to everyone as we try to revive the richness of faith in everyone. Make us one family in You and let the Holy Spirit animate us to live and love truly. Amen.