24th Week, Tuesday, Sept 19
1 Timothy 3:1-13 / Luke 7:11-17
Paul talks about leaders: Leaders should have proven virtue.
A New York-bound Amtrak train had a serious accident in
Mansfield, Ohio. Two engines and fifteen cars of the Broadway Limited jumped
the tracks and went flying against an embankment. Panic threatened to strike
the 400 passengers. But then a calm, familiar voice rang out. "This is
Pearl, honey! Don't worry, honey! Honey, everything's going to be all
right!" The voice belonged to singer Pearl Bailey. Clad only in a night
robe and sneakers, she moved among the injured, encouraging them. "She was
something out there," said one of the rescue workers.
Paul's discussion of leadership reminds us that, at times,
leadership must be exercised not just by official leaders but by all of us.
Just as Pearl Bailey saw a need and filled it, so we should respond to the
needs of the Church when we see them.
***
How capable are we of leadership in a crisis? "You
can't lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself." Gene Mauch
***
St. Paul
writes to Timothy on people fit to be ministerial leaders in the Church:
bishops, priests, and deacons. He presupposes that they are from the people and
close to the people, as they still were in those days. Then, aside from having
some leadership qualities, they must first of all be good Christians
themselves, who are credible because they live as they teach. Then, their word
will be as mighty as that of Christ, who could raise the dead to life.
***
Prayer
Lord our
God, the word of your Son was mighty for he lived as he taught and he was a
free person. And he could heal the sick and raise the dead to life. Give to
your Church credible leaders who lead in living the life of your Son. Let their
words and deeds stir our hearts and bring us the new life of Jesus Christ, our
Lord. Amen
***
Saint Januarius
Little is known about Januarius except that he was a bishop
of Benevento (near Naples, Italy) and was probably martyred during the
persecutions under Emperor Diocletian around 305. According to legends about
Januarius, he went to visit Christians who had been imprisoned. He was then
arrested and condemned to death for being a Christian. Januarius and his
companions were thrown to wild beasts in an amphitheater, but the wild animals
refused to harm them. The Christians were beheaded instead, and the blood and
body of Januarius were brought back to Naples. Januarius is regarded as the
patron saint of Naples, and his protection is sought when there is a danger
of volcanic eruption.
