Leadership in touch

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary relate episodes where the purpose of God for people is recognized, praised and ignored. The Gospel of Matthew presents the dialogue between Jesus and the disciples where He asks about who the people say He is. His question is answered in general terms and Jesus directs Peter to respond. Peter's proclamation is the verbalization of the inspiration of the Spirit in Peter to call out in recognition of the Presence of God in Jesus. The Letter of Paul to the Romans lists some of the characteristics of wisdom and knowledge of God. Paul recalls the words of Isaiah and Job who recognize the vast difference in the Divine and human existence. The Book of Isaiah contains the message of the error in the choices of the people of Israel to trust in poor leaders rather than the faithfulness of the Lord to Israel. The call for the return to the relationship of the Covenant when the Lord was first concern for the people is constantly ignored. The leadership of those who recognize and choose to live according to the Will of God as revealed in the intimate relationship of indwelling Spirit with the Spirit of God is given to Eliakim in the time of Isaiah and to Peter by Jesus.