Leading in Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invite us to contemplate our desires for retribution and asserting our aspirations as our primary goal.

Leading as servant

In the passage from the Prophet Jeremiah we encounter a prayer for vengeance.

 Another Prayer for Vengeance1

Psalm 31 contains themes that connect to Jeremiah and Jesus.

* [31:6] Into your hands I commend my spirit: in Lk 23:46 Jesus breathes his last with this Psalm verse. Stephen in Acts 7:59 alludes to these words as he is attacked by enemies. The verse is used as an antiphon in the Divine Office at Compline, the last prayer of the day.
* [31:13] Like a worn-out tool: a common comparison for something ruined and useless, cf. Is 30:14; Jer 19:11; 22:28.
* [31:14] Terrors are all around me: a cry used in inescapable danger, cf. Jer 6:25; 20:10; 46:5; 49:29.2 

The Gospel from Matthew is Jesus third prediction of His Passion followed by the request of the mother of James and John for a special place for her sons in Jesus Kingdom.

* [20:20–28] Cf. Mk 10:35–45. The request of the sons of Zebedee, made through their mother, for the highest places of honor in the kingdom, and the indignation of the other ten disciples at this request, show that neither the two brothers nor the others have understood that what makes for greatness in the kingdom is not lordly power but humble service. Jesus gives the example, and his ministry of service will reach its highest point when he gives his life for the deliverance of the human race from sin.3 

Thomas Quinn remembers reading for the first time in this passage Jesus stating that this favor was “not mine to give.” Jesus held himself subservient to his Father. It was a turning point for Thomas.

I felt that we too must take this example to heart.  If we want to be exalted in the Kingdom of God, we must be servants. Jesus, himself, came to serve, not to be served.  Jesus also asked his friends to accept the cup-the suffering- that he would undergo in the coming days. Pray that we can answer with them, “ we can.” 

Don Schwager quotes “Do you wish to be great?” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"Do you wish to be great? Then begin from what is slightest. Do you plan to construct a high and mighty building? Then think first about the foundation of humility. When people plan to erect a lofty and large building, they make the foundations all the deeper. But those who lay the foundation are forced to descend into the depths." (excerpt from Sermon 69, 2) 5 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Matthew 20:17-28 comments that, without even realizing it, we can all be tempted to seek attention for our children—or even ourselves—at the expense of other people. That’s why the ambitious mother of James and John might make us uncomfortable. Hearing her try to secure a special position for her sons in God’s kingdom can hit close to home for us.

Jesus’ response is blunt: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” (Matthew 20:22). He exposes their mixed motivations and clarifies what greatness in his kingdom really looks like. Authority and position are to be used in service, Jesus explains. And to serve is to seek to love above all.6 

Friar Jude Winkler reflects on the tragic figure of Jeremiah who is under death threat after preaching to turn the hearts of his people back to God. The Jewish mother is the agent of James and John in the Gospel as Matthew tries to protect the image of the apostles. Friar Jude reminds us that authority is to serve those who are broken and to take up the cross for those who do not know the Cross.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, connects to our aspirations to lead by asking what are those inner imperatives that rise to support us and challenge us in the journey of the second half of life? He offers that Jung’s most compelling contribution is the idea of individuation, that is, the lifelong project of becoming more nearly the whole person we were meant to be—what [God] intended, not the parents, or the tribe, or, especially, the easily intimidated or inflated ego.

 The psychology of the first half of life is driven by the fantasy of acquisition: gaining ego strength to deal with separation, separating from the overt domination of parents, acquiring a standing in the world. . . . But then the second half of life asks of us, and ultimately demands, relinquishment—relinquishment of identification with property, roles, status, provisional identities—and the embrace of other, inwardly confirmed values.
Reference:James Hollis, Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life: How to Finally, Really Grow Up (Gotham Books: 2005), 9-10, 86.7

Our journey to being the whole person involves transformation of our instincts for vengeance and self serving authority to serving others because they need our love.

References

1	(n.d.). Jeremiah, chapter 18 - usccb. Retrieved March 20, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/Jeremiah/18:18
2	(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 31 - usccb. Retrieved March 20, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/bible/Psalms/31:5
3	(n.d.). Matthew, chapter 20 - usccb. Retrieved March 20, 2019, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20
4	(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved March 20, 2019, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
5	(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved March 20, 2019, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org
6	(n.d.). 2nd Week of Lent - Mass Readings and Catholic Daily Meditations for .... Retrieved March 20, 2019, from https://wau.org/meditations/2019/03/20
7	(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archive: March 2019 - Daily Meditations Archives .... Retrieved March 20, 2019, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/2019/03/