Posted by The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Melchor Bernal, SVD – Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City
Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
A story is told of a parish priest who traveled far and went to a hermitage for a spiritual retreat. He sought a hermit who was famous for giving a question instead of an advice. After introducing himself as a parish priest on spiritual retreat, he asked the hermit for a question. The hermit then gave him the question: “What do they need?” The priest went away disappointed.
Feeling he might have been misunderstood, he went back and told the hermit that the question he gave him was helpful but he was there for his spiritual retreat and was not thinking of his parish apostolate. So, he asked the hermit if he could give him a question for his spiritual life. The hermit responded: “I see! Your question then is: “What do they really need?”
Leaders like Peter and Paul raised the right question and found the answer that made them through the suffering as they responded to God’s invitation to serve His flock. True leaders are those who asked fundamental questions as they lived through their sufferings.
The leadership of Peter and Paul emerged from their initial misunderstanding of Jesus. Peter had misunderstood Jesus; he disavowed Jesus when his personal security was at stake. This great mistake changed his attitude. But because of Jesus’s tremendous love for him he changed his attitude.
On the other hand Paul’s public persecution of Jesus’ followers ended in his “falling into the ground” and being “blinded” in order to rise again, and see the bright light of God’s love mandating him to preach the good news.
Their mistakes became the gateway to their selfless dedication to God’s Kingdom. Leaders are those who learn to submit to God’s power when confronted with their weaknesses. They allow Him to work through their mistakes, shortcomings, and sins.
Leaders are not chained to their personal or any shortsighted interests. Rather, they allow themselves to be freed from whatever bondage they might have so that the works of God may prosper in them. True leadership is a gift, not given by flesh and blood, but from God.
