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 signifies to do what you say and lead by example. For instance if the
leader tells those under him 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. These 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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