Gospel:
Matthew 23:1-12
Jesus
spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, “The scribes and the
Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and
observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.
For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to
carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to
move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their
phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets,
seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation
‘Rabbi.’ As for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi.’ You have but one teacher, and you
are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in
heaven. Do not be called ‘Master’; you have but one master, the Christ. The
greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be
humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
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Reflection:
Do you live what you preach?
Walk your
talk is a language of management, what does this mean? It simply signify to do
what you say and lead by example. For instance if the leader tells his
subordinates to do this and that, the leader must ensure that he does it first
thus he leads the way for his people.
Many of
the Pharisees and the scribes during the time of Jesus were leaders of their
communities. And as such they give orders to their people to do this and that,
then it ends with giving orders. There was no leadership by example from them,
they gave orders and they just stay in their ivory towers observing their
subjects.
Effective
leadership for Jesus is leadership by example. They are leaders who walk their
talk. For instance in a family setting if the parents would say to their
children, do this and that and observe this discipline and that. To facilitate
thorough accomplishment of their orders the parents should lead by example. Thus, they
earn the respect of their children.
Isn’t
this advice of Jesus also very useful to our personal lives? If we want our
orders to be accomplished and if we want to gain the respect of our people we
must then be ready to lead by example. And this is by the way how Jesus lived
His life and His leadership.
How are
you as an individual or perhaps as a leader? Are you the type who’s just
content of giving orders or you lead by example? – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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