COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY EVER-LIVING GOD, LEAD US TO A SHARE IN THE JOYS OF HEAVEN, SO THAT THE HUMBLE FLOCK MAY REACH WHERE THE BRAVE SHEPHERD HAS GONE BEFORE. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 22:1-6; 1Pt 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10.
“LISTEN ATTENTIVELY AS JESUS CALLS YOUR NAME AND LET HIM LEAD YOU THROUGH THE LIFE OF SACRAMENTAL GRACE”.
Note: Today is the 63rd World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV issued a message entitled, “THE INTERIOR DISCOVERY OF GOD’S GIFT” for this day of prayer for Vocations, which encourages reflection on God’s call to priesthood, Religious Life and Marriage. Let us intensify our prayers for more and genuine vocations into these areas mentioned above. "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38).
A key or major cause of any generation or society going astray is bad leadership, especially the type of leadership that, out of personal interest, gains and self-aggrandisement, denies sincerity and truth and sticks to what is evil. It is also in place to say that, leadership without commitment, dedication, sacrifice, discipline, etc. will always cast a slur on the said generation and society.
This was the type of society or generation in which Jesus and his disciples found themselves. Jesus described his generation (society) as “an evil generation; it is asking for a sign…” (Lk 11:29). Even the Apostles, at certain times, were caught in the web of denial of sincerity and truth. We call to mind Peter who denied ever knowing Jesus out of fear and love of life and self. Peter, can be described as one who, initially had been an unstable and a failed leader at certain times during Jesus’ ministry when he denied that he knew Jesus (Jn 18:15-18, 25-27). But when he repented, Christ forgave and restored him (Jn 21). He was now a new Peter, humble but bold. His confidence came from the Holy Spirit, who made him a powerful and dynamic speaker and leader.
The first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2) testifies to the fact that Peter is now a “new Peter”, a changed and bold Peter, a Peter of sincerity and truth and a Peter full of the new life of Christ. He can now, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, rule the people Christ (the Good Leader and Shepherd), entrusted into his hands. While Peter is worthy of emulation for leaders, Jesus should be a model par excellence for all leaders and the passage from 1 Pt 2:20b-25 is a very good meditation for leaders and leaders-to-be. It describes Jesus as the True and Good Leader and Shepherd. He suffered for us, he did not sin, no deceit was found in his mouth, he never returned an insult for one, he did not threaten when he was undergoing suffering, he bore our sins in his body upon the cross to free us from sin and let us live righteous lives, his wounds healed us and he, the Good Shepherd, Guardian and Leader, had brought us from our straying back to God.
A quick look at the life of the religious leaders at the time of the Prophets of old down through to the early Christians, reveals that most of them were not sincere, honest, truthful, committed, dedicated, disciplined and selflessly sacrificial. They were not ready to accept the truth when it was pointed out to them. They exploited the people, “made heavy loads for them to carry which they (leaders) would not lift a finger to carry”. They cherished their positions, held on to them, guided and protected them. They were okay and interested in the status quo. They were failed leaders. Of course, no wonder their generation or society was evilly rotten, corrupted and immoral.
Today, as we ccriticisethe generation and society at the time of Jesus and the early Christians, can we confidently say that our generation or society is better? Do we have in our generation or society leaders whose actions, inactions and omissions show they are failed leaders?
A very good friend of mine from a neighboring country, critically analyzing what goes on in his country, described it as a “failed country/State”: the inhuman practices, the wickedness, laziness, selfishness, the bribery and corruption, the dishonesty, the immorality, the occultism, the materialism, innocent suffering and killing, religious and tribal clashes, unnecessary and unhealthy rivalry and competition, rude and disrespectful behavior and speech, tale bearing, false religious practices, etc, etc. This was a prophetic statement and an honest description of his country. Of course, just like during the time of Jesus and the Apostles, my friend’s people, especially the leaders of his country did not take it lightly. Is Ghana free from these?
Indeed, all the above will go on in a generation or state where there is bad leadership. It is not that the leaders do not hear about these things going on in society. They hear about them but because of cheap popularity, the fear of losing their positions/posts, because of personal gains and sself-aggrandisement they are mute and silent about them. Sometimes, this is prevalent in the religious, political and social arenas. The Dabaaba describe such leaders as: “Ninkpeng Kponkponri/Konkonti” (Cassava leader – because you cannot use it as an immediate alternative to cool down the children’s hunger to wait for the main dish), “Ninkpong laakyiina” (a leader that eats all the food without leaving a bit of it for the children), “Ninkpeng follaa” (Good for nothing leader). Such is the leader who sits and watches the house ccollapsewithout uttering a word (Cf. The Song: Yiri lere Yidaana, Yiri lere Yidaana.).
The basis of good leadership is the family. The family or home is the basic avenue or unit for the formation and education of the child. The parents are the first teachers, instructors and “formators” of the child, who is the future leader. A child can grow to be a very good and God-fearing leader if he/she is educated and well-formed by ttheirparents in the family. Parents, what do you teach your children? How are you forming them to become future leaders in the world? Any leader who wants to be successful and eventually be judged as a good leader must take after the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Such a leader must cultivate and exhibit such qualities as fear of God and live the spirits of: love for people, sincerity, honesty and truthfulness, tenderness, forgiveness, sacrifice, patience, guidance and protection, endurance, commitment and dedication, and responsibility.
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour and Redeemer, for doing all the above for us. Help us to repent and be bbaptisedin the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all the sins that we have committed individually or collectively in discharging our various leadership roles in our homes, offices, communities, and in the world at large. Help us to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, whom you promised us, to enable us ‘to ave ourselves from this corrupt generation’. AMEN. Happy 4th Sunday of Easter.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SUNDAY, ON THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES: ‘THE RESURRECTION, THE ASCENSION, THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE ASSUMPTION, AND THE CORONATION’. (WE PRAY FOR FAITH, HOPE, LOVE OF GOD, GRACE OF A HAPPY DEATH AND TRUST IN MARY’S INTERCESSION) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and tat he hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “LOOK UPON YOUR FLOCK, KIND SHEPHERD, AND BE PLEASED TO SETTLE IN ETERNAL PASTURES THE SHEEP YOU HAVE REDEEMED BY THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF YOUR SON. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
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