Do Not Fear, But Believe

I am starting to read another one of my summer books.  This one is entitled, 'Servant Leader,' or something of that nature.  The context is using the spiritual motif of servanthood, in the business world today.  The author (whose name I have yet to recall) had attended a leadership seminar at a monastery.  The monk-retreat leader had been a former investment banker, before joining a monastery.  I will have more on this as the summer progresses.

As short as the Gospel is, Mark succinctly outlines how human fear, greed, ambition, selfishness, and self-righteousness, can lead to death and destruction, and distance us from any relationship with God and others.While we may have enjoyed the writings of Charles Dickens, Flannery O'Connor, or Samuel Clemens, they are very blunt in pointing out how sin and brokenness can destroy individuals as well as an entire culture.  And like those surrounding  the child in the Emperors New Clothes, we do not always have the courage to point out where there is something wrong.

In today's Gospel (Mk 7:6, 12-14) the crowd is hurrying Jesus to the synagogue officials home.  Everyone is so caught up in this drama, they miss the un-named woman, who had been suffering for a lifetime, with a disease.  This one of those situations whereas Jesus reminds us that the Father's love and mercy are meant for all peoples.  The salvation and peace promised us is not just about those who have a 'voice' in society, but also about those who we could easily bypass.  Jesus spends some time with this woman, reassures her that her healing is because she did not allow fear to keep her from reaching out to the Christ.

Again the teachings and proclamation of Jesus is not all rainbows and daisies.  Jesus challenges us to love our enemies, to forgive our persecutors, to take up a cross, and know that the kingdom is based on the ability to give a cup of water to a thirsty man or woman.  We are called to be servants (not door-mats) of the Gospel. And not unlike a gentleman's gentleman, have the ability to guide, lead, and serve one one another, along a pathway of healing and hope.  But we have to have the ability to wash feet.

More and more it becomes apparent that we need servant-leaders who aspire to nothing more that eliminating fear, and offering compassion, communion, and peace.  Our profession of faith needs to be bold and eager as we go out into the world.  But try to go through the narrow door.