Introduction:
Good morning, Pilgrims, wherever you are, and welcome to our celebration of the 30th Sunday of our anything-but-Ordinary time.
We have important things to accomplish during and after this liturgy. During the liturgy, we will solemnly induct two new members of the Steering Committee, while thanking two departing members for their service. After the liturgy, we will hold a general meeting to discuss, among other issues, our financial picture and how we organize our Zoom and hybrid liturgies in the future. We hope all of you will stay with us and contribute to that important discussion.
The Mass planners, consisting of current and incoming Steering Committee members and our celebrant, Father Vince, drew the theme of “Listen Well, Lead with Passionate Love.” The theme did not jump easily from the readings, as you may see as you listen to them. Paul’s letter seems to contrast sharply with the first reading and the Gospel. The first reading and Gospel highlight a God who listens to the poor and oppressed, and the sinner. In his letter, by contrast, Paul seems self-satisfied, exulting in having fought the good fight, and anticipating his heavenly reward. But all the readings teach us elements of leadership. We want leaders who “listen well” with humility and openness, especially to the least of our brothers and sisters. But we also want leaders like Paul, who are confident of God’s love and support, and who are willing to “lead with passion,” even if they make well-meaning mistakes along the way. And we know that Paul carried a passionate love indeed for the struggling Christian communities across the Mediterranean that he visited and corresponded with.
So, as we refresh our Steering Committee today, we call for leaders who are both humble and confident as they listen to the Community and seek to solve its problems and meet its needs in a spirit of passionate love. With these thoughts in mind, and thrilled as always to have Father Vince in our midst, we begin with the opening song.
1st Reading: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18
2nd Reading: 2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18
Gospel: Luke 18:9-14
Homily: Vince Cushing, OFM (paraphrased from notes taken)
Today we reflect…on the issue of leadership. The term is wide and plastic; we seldom think about the variety of leadership (styles). In my own experience, in a democratic government, we look for our government to reflect (the ideals embedded in) our constitution.
There’s autocratic leadership, as exemplified by Vladimir Putin – a total dictator…. There’s business leadership…which is frequently goal-directed and sometimes consultive. This morning we look at servant leadership, especially in PAX, which echoes the Gospel and is a source of action and decision-making. It guides and enables us; it is not built on the dominant personality of the leader, but looks to the community.
Sometimes transactional leadership is needed – searching for what needs to be done with effectiveness and grace, (stemming) not solely from the leader or the community, but more of a benign dialogue.
A leader of PAX is a delegate of the community. There is a special understanding of leadership in PAX, one not present in the Catholic Church lead by bishops who tell rather than consult with the community about what to do. PAX discerns what the Holy Spirit is prompting the community to do.
There are several characteristics of servant leadership. The first is Love: genuine, deep, unconditional love of and for the community. Pope Francis is a good example of this. There is a good deal of opposition to Pope Francis here in the U.S. where a very individual kind of leadership prevails.
The second is the ability to Listen very carefully to what the community is saying and what the community needs. The basic characteristics of a (faith) community are: Love, Eucharist, and Prayer.
I looked up the term “leadership” on the internet. Many Protestant and Evangelical seminaries have courses in leadership. A leader is usually charismatic and a man – not the type of leadership cherished at PAX.
PAX is a special jewel in the life of the Church offering a new way to live out what it means to be a disciple. As Americans, even in PAX, we tend to be somewhat passive in living out that vision.
Another task of the Steering Committee is to monitor the health of the community and to communicate signs of community health or where nourishment/support are needed. PAX has been gifted and guided by the Holy Spirit for the last 53 years.
I’ll conclude with a simple story I’ve told before. I attended a workshop for seminarian personnel with a good friend Brian Stiller, a wonderful evangelical Christian. I asked him about his vision and philosophy of leadership. When I mentioned my directive vision (of leadership), he said he didn’t have a particular vision of leadership. “All my life, I’ve been guided by…I’m a child of the Holy Spirit on the road to glory.”
You have been my friends for 53 years. You’ve begotten an understanding of life, deep affection of community and one another, and discernment leading to transformation of this world. Sometimes there is a need for transformative leadership to be experienced in a community: in PAX, in the Papacy. Action is needed; it must be taken and supported. Pope Francis has taken action (in calling the Synod on Synodality), but less than 1% of the faithful have participated in deciding where the Church will go.
The time is coming for some kind of transformational action in PAX; the Holy Spirit is present within and guiding PAX. We too are on the road to glory. We want to stay on that road to glory and not lose our energy or way.