Sometimes, we quickly judge and look for justice through lawsuits and courts. In our lives together in families, the Church, and society, we see injustice and cry, “Life is not fair.” Children suffering abuse, corporations acting out of greed, nations at war, and leaders looking for power for themselves rather than service to others have become everyday occurrences. It seems we are like the people described in today’s reading.
We look for leaders to show us a better way. Author Leonard Doohan writes: The splendid task of leadership is a vocation to hope. A great leader is an agent of hope—has a hope filled vision of humanity. It requires faith, positive thinking, sharing with good people, reflection, and contemplation….
In the Gospel reading today, we encounter Jesus, a leader of hope. After spending a night in reflection and contemplation, he chooses those who will become leaders, bringing a message of hope in God’s love into a hurting world. Instead of choosing experts in the field—religious leaders, teachers, and those with wealth to support the movement, he chooses ordinary men. They will receive on-the-job training. They will be schooled as leaders in hope by being in his presence and experiencing his love.
By virtue of baptism, each of us has been called to become leaders who are agents of hope. We are called to bring hope to our families as parents, children, and siblings – to be agents of hope in our church through service, to view our world with hope, modeling how we can live together in peace.
Our on-the-job training is the same as the disciples. We are schooled by being with Jesus through his Word and his Body each time we come together for Eucharist. We learn from him and one another how to be agents of hope.
Where can I bring hope today?
Let us Pray:
Good and gracious Lord, we give you thanks for calling forth leaders through the gift of Baptism that will enable us to shape a Church and society based on the hope you place in our lives. Send your Spirit into our hearts and into the hearts of all you call that we might hear and answer your invitation to become agents of hope to our weary world. Amen.
