not me
"It cannot be like that with you." —Mark 10:43
Christian leaders are to be totally different from worldly leaders. We are to stand out in an obvious contrast to worldly leaders in many ways, such as:
- trusting God to provide what we need (Mt 6:10), rather than building our own financial security,
- giving rather than saving,
- surrendering control to God rather than amassing control (Lk 1:38),
- serving humbly from weakness (Mk 10:43; 2 Cor 12:9-10) rather than ruling from a position of strength,
- praising God rather than receiving praise ourselves (Mt 6:5),
- giving even our lives for the problem people we lead, rather than getting rid of them (Mk 10:45),
- serving "the needs of all" — directly and personally (Mk 10:44),
- showing no favoritism (Jas 2:1), but treating all with the same interest and love, and
- being always ready to hand over the leadership role to another if God requires.
Those in the world who "exercise authority lord it over them" (Mk 10:42). "It cannot be like that with you" (Mk 10:43).
Prayer: Father, "reward those who have hoped in You, and let Your prophets be proved true" (Sir 36:15).
Promise: "The Son of Man has not come to be served but to serve — to give His life in ransom for the many." —Mk 10:45
Praise: St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi had to persevere through long periods of spiritual barrenness. Her relentless love of Jesus enabled her to endure her crosses.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 12, 2004
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