24th Week, Tuesday, Sept 19
1 Timothy 3:1-13 / Luke 7:11-17
Paul talks about leaders: Leaders should have proven virtue.
A New York-bound Amtrak train had a serious accident in Mansfield, Ohio. Two engines and fifteen cars of the Broadway Limited jumped the tracks and went flying against an embankment. Panic threatened to strike the 400 passengers. But then a calm, familiar voice rang out. "This is Pearl, honey! Don't worry, honey! Honey, everything's going to be all right!" The voice belonged to singer Pearl Bailey. Clad only in a night robe and sneakers, she moved among the injured, encouraging them. "She was something out there," said one of the rescue workers.
Paul's discussion of leadership reminds us that, at times, leadership must be exercised not just by official leaders but by all of us. Just as Pearl Bailey saw a need and filled it, so we should respond to the needs of the Church when we see them.
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How capable are we of leadership in a crisis? "You can't lead anyone else further than you have gone yourself." Gene Mauch
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St. Paul writes to Timothy on people fit to be ministerial leaders in the Church: bishops, priests, and deacons. He presupposes that they are from the people and close to the people, as they still were in those days. Then, aside from having some leadership qualities, they must first of all be good Christians themselves, who are credible because they live as they teach. Then, their word will be as mighty as that of Christ, who could raise the dead to life.
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Prayer
Lord our God, the word of your Son was mighty for he lived as he taught and he was a free person. And he could heal the sick and raise the dead to life. Give to your Church credible leaders who lead in living the life of your Son. Let their words and deeds stir our hearts and bring us the new life of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
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Saint Januarius
Little is known about Januarius except that he was a bishop of Benevento (near Naples, Italy) and was probably martyred during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian around 305. According to legends about Januarius, he went to visit Christians who had been imprisoned. He was then arrested and condemned to death for being a Christian. Januarius and his companions were thrown to wild beasts in an amphitheater, but the wild animals refused to harm them. The Christians were beheaded instead, and the blood and body of Januarius were brought back to Naples. Januarius is regarded as the patron saint of Naples, and his protection is sought when there is a danger of volcanic eruption.
