[stephenkhoo]

Scripture Reflections
Saturday, 30 June, 2012, 12th Week, Ordinary Time
COMPASSIONATE AND CARING LEADERSHIP
SCRIPTURE READINGS: LAMENTATIONS 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; MT 8:5-17

The health of an organization is very much dependent on its leadership. If the leaders are in control of the organization, are setting the right direction and living exemplary lives, those under their charge will act accordingly. Conversely, when leaders lack focus or credibility, not only do they fall, but the organization perishes with them as well.

The first reading from the Book of Lamentations recounts the tragic end of the Davidic Dynasty ofIsrael as a consequence of poor leadership. Jeremiah, presumably the author, wrote of the destruction of the then fortified walls of Jerusalem, the fall of the kings and princes which brought about suffering for the people who were reduced to poverty and deportation to Babylon.

Of course, inept leadership could be a result of the counsel of unwise advisers and collaborators. But the leader must assume final responsibility. Israel’s history revealed that those leaders who did not place God at the center of their lives eventually made gods of themselves. In abandoning God, they abandoned all values of humility, justice, love, compassion, and instead ruled without any real sense of service, justice or morality.

In contrast, we have exemplary leadership in the person of the Centurion, a pagan and non-Jew. Firstly, he put his subordinate’s interest above his own. He even went out of the way to help his servant who, in the order of society, was considered insignificant to his master in those days. How many of us would go out of the way to attend to the needs of our hired workers? In many instances, we do not even treat our domestic helpers and workers with dignity, much less show concern for their personal well-being.

Secondly, he was courageous enough to seek help even at the expense of his reputation. He approached Jesus at the risk of being rejected or ridiculed by his fellow officers if his servant were not healed. Would we risk our reputation or security for someone who is not of much use to us, and might even hamper our promotion or status in society?

Thirdly, he did not perfunctorily ask Jesus for his servant to be healed as if it were just a passing remark. Nay, he took the trouble to make his way to Capernaum and pleaded earnestly for Jesus to heal his servant: “‘Sir,’ he said ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.’“ His request was sincere and heartfelt. When people ask us to pray for them, how often do we pray in union with their sufferings and anxiety, or with God’s mercy and compassion? More often than not, we just pray with our lips, but not with our hearts, if we pray at all.

Fourthly, Jesus was so edified, or rather astonished, at the faith of the centurion that he said, “I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast on the kingdom of heaven; but the subjects of the kingdom will be turned out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” This warning of Jesus serves as a reminder to us because we, who are supposedly practising Catholics, have no faith, or are lacking so much faith in Jesus’ power to heal. Compared to many non-Christians who have greater reverence for the sacred and the holy than us, we pay lip service to our faith in Christ as the Lord. We pray with diffident faith.

Fifthly, the centurion understood the meaning of faith. Relating with his own human authority, he said, “Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured.” Do we have such confidence in Jesus’ authority over the Devil, evil spirits and sicknesses and sins? If we do, then why do we not turn to Him in expectant faith and confidence that He can heal. Instead we turn to New Age philosophy, relying on stones and objects or some psychic power or even mediums and magic for healing, as if such means are better than the Word of Jesus who acts efficaciously.

Sixthly, he was sensitive towards the feelings of others. Although not a gentile, he was receptive of the goodness that came from other religions. His openness is much to be admired. He also acted with sensitivity towards Jesus and the religious sentiments of the Jews. He did not want to put Jesus in a spot by having Him enter a pagan house. This is certainly something we can emulate. Christian charity demands that we accord others with the greatest respect for what they believe in without belittling their doctrines, religious practices and culture. Quite often, because of excessive zeal and ignorance, we say or do things that hurt the sentiments of other believers.

Finally, what we can learn from the Centurion in leadership is that of obedience. If he could command effectively, it was because he himself must have been an obedient person. At the word of Jesus, he went home to find his servant healed. If we seek to be leaders, one of the most important qualities is learning how to receive orders from higher authority. The paradox of life is that we want people to obey and listen to us, but we are not that ready to render the same to those who have authority over us.

Obedience requires humility. The hallmark of a leader in the final analysis is humility. It is this virtue that is the gateway to obedience, compassion, sensitivity and faith. The centurion displayed all these traits only because he was a humble man. This is so much lacking when we become leaders. We allow power and popularity to get into our heads, thinking that we know everything and people are to be used for our service, pandering to our needs and preferences.

Jesus is THE exemplar of leadership. His compassion for people went beyond His plan of reaching out only to the Jews initially. He was ready to adapt and reconsider what would be best in the ministry. As the gospel tells us, He is the fulfillment of the suffering servant of Isaiah for “He took our sicknesses away and carried our diseases for us.” He is so identified with us, not only in our sicknesses but in our misery due to our sins, that He would suffer all these for our sake.

Jesus is such a compassionate person for He feels with us as if He is the one suffering. This must be the reason why Jesus was always available for healing not just serious illnesses but even for a fever, as in the case of Peter’s mother-in-law. For Jesus, no suffering is too insignificant for Him to cure. Thus, we can with confidence turn to Him in prayer for all our needs, for Jesus’ wish is to heal us all and set us free from pain and suffering.

Truly, Jesus is a great leader for us to follow. He not only attended to those who came to Him, but He also reached out to those people who were related to His disciples. Jesus knew that if His disciples were to collaborate effectively with Him, He must not neglect the needs of His own disciples and their loved ones. Hence when he heard that Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, without delay He ministered to her. Sometimes as leaders we expect much from our subordinates and workers, but when they have personal needs or problems we are oblivious to their predicament. As leaders, let us seek to be like Jesus, serving the bigger community and at the same time, reaching out to our close collaborators as well. Charity begins at home even though it does not end there.