Reflection
Jesus charged his disciples to have the courage, faith and love to go into all the world and share the good news. They were to be servant leaders as he was. They were to hold their authority lightly, put the needs of others before their own, and help people grow and live into a better way of living. We are part of this same mission. In order to carry it on, we need the courage to cross the barriers of religion, politics, and language and witness to the good news by our lives. We need a reverent love to relate in the language of other cultures. We need compassion to hear the needs of others and act generously. It is through our lives of personal integrity and service that others can understand the message of life brought through the words and actions of Jesus.
Prayer
May I live out the message of the Gospel.
Action
What can you do to bring alive the good news for others? In what ways can you articulate the message with or without words? Do others become wiser, freer, more committed because of your example?
Suggested Reading
Pay attention, come to me,
Listen, listen and your soul will live.
Isaiah 55:3
I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
John 13:14-17
For leadership there is only one road: service. There is no other way. If you have many qualities, the ability to communicate, but you are not a servant, your leadership will fail, it is useless, it has not power to gather people together… Leadership must enter into service, but with a personal love for the people.
Pope Francis
Within each of us lies a power greater than anything we will ever have to face.
Sometimes it reveals itself as a great force–at other times, as a deep, unfolding stillness. For centuries it’s been described as a burning fire. Yet, this power never imposes itself. Each heart decides to respond to its presence–and that decision sets the course for everything that follows.
Paula A. Darcy
The Good News is that God still loves the world through each one of you. You are God’s good news, you are God’s love in action.
Mother Teresa
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Mahatma Gandhi
Open your eyes, alert the ears of your spirit, open your lips and apply your heart
so that in all creatures you may see, hear, praise, love and worship, glorify and honor your God,
The Soul’s Journey to God
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Albert Einstein
You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.
John Lennon
Keep walking in faith; you may be the only shining hope and the guiding light to help uplift those who are lost and knocked down by fear.
Caroline Naoroji
A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the “top of the pyramid,” servant leadership is different.
Robert Greenleaf
Leaders don’t create more followers, they create more leaders.
Tom Peters