Homily: July 31, 2023 Monday of the seventeenth week in Ordinary time (Leader)

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 “Taking the calf, they had made, he fused it in the fire and then ground it down to powder, which he scattered on the water and made the children of Israel drink.”

Moses was really furious and was fast to execute a terrible punishment for the people. I wonder if he reacted that way on behalf of God or if he took the offence personally.

In today’s reading, the children of Israel indeed committed a very grave sin. They committed it while Moses was away and left the leadership to Aaron. The sin was against God, who was aware of what happened, yet He did not punish them immediately. He later answered Moses, “When it is time for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

God has His plan and His time. What He needed Moses to do was simply this, “…go and lead the people to the place I have told you.”

So, a good Christian leader should focus on doing the job God has instructed, and respect God’s plan and time. Leave the judgement and punishment to God.

Moses was totally faithful to God, and willing to do all that God commands him to. However, His stubbornness with the people had caused him to take over the control from God and forget who the Master is.

The Master is the one who declared Himself at the burning bush, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Shouldn’t everyone who represent God in leadership, also represent His gracious and compassionate approach, and imitate His love, faithfulness and slowness to anger?

This is a message for all of us who are leaders in one way or another, especially for me, as a priest. There were times in my life when I forgot that my vocation is simply to lead people to where God wants them to be, not to judge or punish them. When I take time to judge them, I will not have time to love them.

My calling is to be the face of Christ to God’s people, to show them the way to be faithful, loving, forgiving and merciful. To be gracious and compassionate like my Master.

And so, it is the same for you who are ministry leaders, workplace superiors, school seniors, parents, grandparents. In our privileged positions with authority and power over others, let us remember to imitate the Lord, in representing Him, not ourselves.

Let us be faithful to God, fulfilling the mission He entrusted to us, to lead with love. Amen.


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