"Discipleship in Leadership"

    Peace! Today's Gospel (Mk 10:35-45), Jesus' disciples, James and John, sons of Zedebee, asked Jesus to have them seated beside Him, one on the left, and the other on the right.

The disciples already recognized that Jesus was the Messiah and since they thought of His messiaship in political terms, their request was to be seated in a position of honor and power which they would share with Jesus.

In response to their request, Jesus made three requirements for those who wish to assume the ministry of leadership, and those who are in positions of authority, in the Christian community.

First of all, leadership is a call to share in the suffering of Jesus. "They must drink the cup that Jesus drank and be baptized with the baptism He was baptized with" (Mk 10:34). If the members must suffer, so should the leader. This means that leaders are to be exposed to the hurt of others, carry their burdens, and even suffer their anguish. They are to be baptized by putting themselves in conflict with evil powers (Eph 6:12) which oppress, discriminate against, and take advantage of the community members.

Second, leaders assume the role of slaves in the service of others." Whoever wishes to be first must be the slave of all" (Mk 10:44).Leaders cannot therefore exploit their members, or engage themselves in seeking their own advantage, or in self glorification. On the contrary, the quality of their leadership is to be seen in the amount of service that they render.

Finally, leadership may even call for martyrdom. "For the Son of man did not come to be serve and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45). Time comes when leadership demands that the leader himself willingly give up his life for the sake of His people; He dies for them.

We commit ourselves to You, Lord Jesus, to serve one another humbly, as You have loved and serve us."

Rev. Fr. Rufino P. Yabut

Parish Priest

SHJ-MBS Parish Church