President’s Day
Reflection
As we celebrate President’s Day, we remember the leaders whose strength and wisdom were able to stabilize our nation in perilous times. “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. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”(Greenleaf).” We yearn for leaders who can set the nation’s good above their party divisions and personal ambitions. Today, we pray for our President that he may have the wisdom and strength needed to govern this nation. We pray for the members of Congress and ask them to look at the problems of this country and the sufferings of our people and act wisely. We pray for this nation. As a people, may we make wise, informed, and responsible decisions in choosing our leaders. Today, let us be grateful for the continued gift of freedom. In the stress of our times, may we never take our freedom for granted and may we strive to be a people that will seek peace and justice for all.
Prayer
God of truth and unity, today we pray that you will bless our country and its leaders.
Action
Be aware of events in Washington and well educated on the positions and voting records of your representatives at the national level. Try to make informed decisions and not ones influenced by slanted information or party affiliation.
Suggested Reading
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
Matthew 20:25-26
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.
Phil.2:3
A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern… Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good.
Pope Francis
I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.
George Washington
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.
George Washington
I never had a policy; I have just tried to do my very best each and every day.
Abraham Lincoln
America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Abraham Lincoln
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
Abraham Lincoln
The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.
Dwight Eisenhower
A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or regard that quality in its chosen leaders today – and in fact we have forgotten.
John F. Kennedy
We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles.
Jimmy Carter