Journeying the Leadership Path Together
LORD, show me your way; lead me on a level path… --Psalm 27:11
We journey on the path of faith, leadership, and life together. Beginning with Vatican II, and through the Popes--including Saint John Paul II-- there has been a renewed emphasis on the collective responsibility we as
Catholics have in leading and guiding our Church. Clergy and Laity,
side-by-side, using our different gifts, talents, skills, abilities and
knowledge—all to bring about the important work of saving souls in the name of
Jesus Christ.
The statistics are startling -- and a reflection of the world we live in. Poll after poll across the U.S. shows the dwindling
influence of faith in society. Low Mass attendance. Empty pews. Dwindling
number of clergy and religious available to minister to the Catholic flock.
Controversies, scandals, and accusation. But from a place of seeming darkness, the Lord
shows his light and we find a path forward.
Some might stand back and say, “but I’m not a priest, so what can I do?” or “that’s somebody else’s job.” We, the baptized and confirmed Catholics, must step forward. We all have a role to play. We are all called to be leaders.
We—you and
I—we are the Church. We are all called to minister to strangers, our neighbors,
in our own lives. It’s the Royal Priesthood that Jesus gives us in the Great
Commission in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28.
By the very
nature of our Baptism, we have been given the three-fold rights,
responsibilities, and duties as a member of God’s faithful people; this is the
people of God who constitute the Church.
We all have
a duty to continue the mission of Christ—to evangelize, which in Greek means to
spread the “Good News” of Jesus Christ. As
evangelists, we lead and influence others to see their place in God’s Kingdom.
Once
baptized, we also participate in Christ’s Kingly office, as well as His other
roles (priest and prophet), which also include leadership roles. We must use the gifts, talents, and knowledge of God’s people
to bring us closer towards an encounter with Christ Himself—at Mass, in
Adoration, in service, in acts of charity and mercy. All of these require us to
be leaders.
Finally, all
baptized faithful have a duty to participate in the life of a society and work
towards the common good of all humanity. Leading others towards Christ in our
family lives, in our schools, in our work places, and in the communities we
reside and participate in.
This is
nothing new—it’s been a part of the Church from the beginning. If you want to look any of this up, check out
the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 871, 897, 908, 1269, 1897-1917!
It’s all right there! Starting with the Twelve Disciples, and now currently our
turn, we must obey the Good Shepherd when, just as he told Matthew: “Follow
me.” (Luke 5:27)
What can
I do?
So, what are mature
Catholics to do? Where to start? And how? Where does lay leadership in the
Church begin? How can we re-ignite the Church in our own daily efforts to live
the Gospel and invite the world to join us? What tools can be found to help us
with this life-saving effort?
First, look at what you are reading and how you are spending your time. Our calling is to LIVE the Gospel, and how we spend our time is central to that. Not only do we bear
witness to the love of Christ, but we must take ownership of our faith and
be leaders in our homes, our parishes and our communities.
It’s our
responsibility to know and understand the Gospel and how God's message of love is driving our endeavors. Guided by the Holy Spirit,
and working through our continuous prayer and spiritual formation, we can focus our faith journey on three areas:
- 1) Mission
- 2) Community
- 3) Witness
These three
pillars are heavily dependent on the participation and leadership of the lay
faithful. First, we must lead ourselves to Christ before we can lead others. Through
our Baptism, we have an important role in the Kingship of Jesus Christ. We have
a shared responsibility to promote religious vocations, marriage, and the
dedicated single life. We invite people to the love of Christ—that is
leadership!
Second, in
leading our parishes and faith communities, we must renew
and foster a vibrant Catholic life in each of our parishes. That depends on
capable leadership, not just of teaching, ministering, and serving the poor,
but in ensuring a strong and quality foundation for the infrastructure to do
all of this from.
Finally, we
bear witness through our stewardship, our engagement, and our faith in the
home, workplace, and public square. The great leadership guru John C. Maxwell,
who also is a Christian pastor, says that “leadership is about
influence—nothing more, nothing less.” How we influence others in the actions,
words, and attitudes is essential to bringing others to Jesus. That is how we
can bear true witness!
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