[stephenkhoo]

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A WISE LEADER?

SCRIPTURE READINGS: 1 Kg 3:4-13;  Ps 119:9, 10,11,12,13,14; Mk 6:30-34http://www.universalis.com/20140208/mass.htmWhat does it take to be a great and wise leader?  We know that King Solomon together with King David were the most glorious Kings of Israel.  The former continued the foundation laid down by his father, King David.  But it was during Solomon’s reign that Israel reached its height of glory.  What made Solomon a great king?Firstly, it was his humility before God.  Before God, he knew his nothingness.  We are told that “King Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, since that was the greatest of the high places – he offered a thousand holocausts on that altar.”  King Solomon recognized that the real King is not himself but Yahweh, who is the King of Israel and all nations.  In spite of his power, he knew that he was nobody if not for God’s election.  He was only a deputy for Yahweh in ruling his people.Secondly, he was humble and recognized his limitations. He never became too proud and arrogant because of his position.  On the contrary, he was humbled that God had chosen him to lead his people.  This was in spite of the fact that he was “a very young man, unskilled in leadership.His humility springs from his gratitude.  Solomon was appreciative of his people and of God.  When God said to him, “Ask what you would like me to give you.”  Solomon replied, “You showed great kindness to your servant David, my father, when he lived his life before you in faithfulness and justice and integrity of heart; you have continued this great kindness to him by allowing a son of his to sit on his throne today.”     Indeed, when a leader does not get carried away by his power and glory, recognizing that what he has and who he is comes from God, he will never allow pride to destroy him.  He will always be grateful not only to God but also to his people and advisers.Thirdly, a wise leader knows his priorities.  He knows the essentials and what is truly important.  Solomon knew what was truly important for his people’s happiness, namely, justice, impartiality, unity and peace.  He knew that wealth was not everything. Thus instead of focusing on strengthening his army or the economy, he asked for the Wisdom to govern.But most of all, a great king is one who cares for others. Solomon loved his people more than himself.  He was more concerned for his people’s well being than his own.King Solomon did not ask for wealth and power when the Lord promised to give him what he desired.  He did not ask anything for himself, not even for peace and joy.  Instead Solomon said, “Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?”  He prayed for wisdom and discernment so that he could use these gifts to govern the people whom the Lord had entrusted to him.And we are told that God was very pleased with the selfless prayer of Solomon, so much so that He not only gave him what he asked for: “a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.” but also what he did not ask for: “such riches and glory as no other king ever had.”If Solomon got more than what he asked for, it was because by asking for gifts for the service of others, he was blessed indirectly in return.  The truth of life is that when we do not serve ourselves directly but the people whom we are called to serve, they cannot but also be inspired by our selfless love for them.  In turn they will be willing to give their lives to us and also to collaborate with us.  So one cannot love oneself directly but only through others.  In the same way too, God often does not bless us directly but through others.In the gospel, we have the model of leadership in the person of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  He is the exemplary leader and shepherd for us to imitate.  Jesus knew the importance of founding our ministry in God.  This explains why He wanted His disciples to rest after a long apostolic journey.  In asking them to take a rest, Jesus had in mind more than just physical rest.  Rather, this rest is the Sabbath rest when we call to mind the love of God for us, His divine providence and therefore our total dependence on Him.The apostles needed rest and reflection after their mission to also contemplate the source of their effective ministry, or else they risked the danger of becoming arrogant and proud, thinking that their success was due to their efforts and not due to the power of God.For us too, physical and spiritual rest is needed for us to be in contact with God the source and power of life and with our inner motives.  Without spending quiet time with the Lord, our motives often get so confused, so much so that we lose the perspective of what we are doing.  Instead of focusing on bringing glory to God and center everything in Christ, our ministry and work become more focused on ourselves and our glory, consciously or unconsciously.Only when we are in direct contact with the Lord, can we then learn the meaning and the art of compassion.  We are told that Jesus, in spite of His desire to spend time with the apostles, took pity on the large crowd when He stepped ashore, “because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.”   What this means for us is that in all situations, charity must remain the guiding principle of our activities. The interests of others must always come before ours, otherwise prayer can also become a selfish activity.   We must bear in mind that if we pray, it is not primarily for ourselves, but like Solomon, we pray for the sake of others, so that we can serve them with the heart and compassion of Jesus and, most of all, with wisdom and fidelity.      

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