Homily Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time

          Leadership is something that is very much on our mind in this political season.  The readings this weekend, seem very apropos.  One leader we hear about in the first lesson is Shebna.  In the time of the Prophet Isaiah, he was the chief adviser to King Hezekiah. He led Israel into a terrible alliance with Egypt against Assyria.  His instincts were obviously poor.  He was young and he was rash, not the seasoned leader that was needed in a time of crisis. 

            The other leader we reflect on this Sunday is an older man, Peter.  Jesus says that Peter is the rock that he will build his church on. But Peter, often, appeared, not to be a rock, but more like a mound of silly putty.  He made a lot of mistakes along the way.  What made him a great leader.  Maybe it was because he was not afraid to admit his mistakes.

            Jesus first met Peter by the seashore in Galilee (Luke 5:1-11).  Jesus preaches to the people by the sea.  He then instructs Peter to put his boat out into the water, to lower his nets.  Peter, the experienced fisherman, tells Jesus that it does not work to go out on the lake in the middle of the day to catch fish.  We know the rest of the story.  Peter and his friends catch so many fish their boats almost sink.  But the most striking part of the story is that after the miracle happens, Peter kneels at the feet of Jesus saying, “Leave me Lord for I am a sinful man.”  What a way to introduce yourself!  What is even more surprising is Jesus’ response.  He asked Peter to be one of the twelve.  He calls a sinful man to be a leader who keeps sinning.

            We then have the story we read today.  Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, but if we read on, we find Peter arguing with Jesus, telling him that he cannot carry out the plan that calls for the Messiah’s humiliation and death.  Jesus calls Peter Satan because he is unwilling to see things another way.  But Jesus does not chase Peter away. He continues to train him.

            We also remember how Peter denies Jesus three times in the passion narrative.  But when he lies for the third time, saying he does not know Jesus, he hears the cock crow.  He realizes what he has done.  He then weeps in sorrow.  What made Peter a great leader?  His ability to admit his failures and repent in sorrow and to move forward.  His hardships caused him to be ever humbler and more empathetic.

            Great leaders are that way.  Doris Kearns Goodwin is a presidential historian.  She wrote a book a couple years ago on presidential leadership.  Goodwin profiled four presidents who led the nation in turbulent times: Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson.  She noticed something about all four.

            Each man had to deal with weakness and failure before they became the persons they were.  Lincoln had so many failures early in his life that they are hard to list. His failures pushed him into a deep depression that was so bad he could barely get out of bed. His experiences also caused him to be the insightful leader he was.  He was able to forgive his political enemies and work with them.  His magnanimity won them over.

            Teddy Roosevelt was a weak, sickly child who suffered from asthma.  He built himself up with physical exercise.  But the biggest blow of his life came when his wife and his mother died on the same day. Roosevelt was heartbroken.  He left public life escaping to the West until he had processed his grief. He then became a man who fought the corruption in society that were destroying people’s lives.

            Franklin Roosevelt was a young, vain, talented politician when he was struck down by polio.  He was devastated, but he listened to the encouragement he received from his friends.  He ran for office again, slowly building up confidence.  He also started a hospital where he could work with other polio patients.  In them, he found inspiration. In his infirmity he led the country through the Great Depression and a World War.

            Lyndon Johnson was a hard driving, legislator that never took care of himself when he began his political career.  He ran over people who got in his way.  But then, at young age he had a heart attack, he changed.  A southerner he became a champion of civil rights.  Goodwin, who came out loudly against the Vietnam War that Johnson championed in the 1960’s applied to be an intern at the Whitehouse.  She thought she would never be selected since she was at odds with Lyndon Johnson.  Johnson asked her to work for him anyway. In the end she saw the virtue in this flawed man, he trusted her so much he asked her to help write his memoirs.

            What does St. Peter and the four presidents teach us about leadership? Leaders admit their weaknesses, learn from them, become more compassionate toward others because of them.  Peter, the repentant sinner new about redemption through personal experience.  Redeemed leaders usually turn out to be the best leaders because people who experience conversion touch truth that makes them free. We need such leaders in the times in which we live. We pray that as move toward voting we will look for leaders who are in touch with their true selves and comfortable with own humanity.  

Questions for Reflection:

1. Do leaders share their weaknesses with others, or do they try to hide them?  Does a leader have to appear perfect?
   1. Who are the leaders I admire?  What were their qualities?

 

Dear Parishioners,

                The last week has been especially difficult for people in our community as we see the deaths from COVID 19 continue to mount.  Many older people are succumbing to this terrible disease. I would encourage people, as many others are, to remain vigilant.  We will continue to try to engage only in activities that are safe in our parish. 

                If we are prolife, as we know, we respect all life.  We should be moved by the deaths of our older citizens who live in nursing homes.  We should be concerned about the people in prison who are struggling with terrible outbreaks of COVID.  No one’s life is expendable.  No one’s life is less worthwhile.   When we start to make such judgements, we are on a slippery slope towards less ethical society.

                I encourage people, to once again, use Fridays as a day of fasting and penance.  This past Friday I rang our church bell 175 times at noon, the hour that Jesus began his passion.  This took a half hour.  We ring the bell one time for each thousand people who have died.

                Let’s never grow cold towards the deaths of people who are most vulnerable in this time of crisis.

                May Our Lady and All the Angels and Saints watch over us this week.

                Fr. Mark