THE LAST WILL BE FIRST

In today’s 1st reading we are being reminded to choose our leaders well. In light of this I would like to share this article from Sabbath entitled: THE HEART OF A TRUE LEADER

It is a disaster for a country, any organization or community when its leader is corrupt, incompetent or just plain bad. This story or parable from the Old Testament expresses a home truth that we need to reflect upon, and especially when we have the opportunity to vote for our leaders in elections. We have to consider the motivations of those who present themselves for public office.

A true leader never seeks the power and responsibility of leadership for his or her own end. This is why it is important to study the character of our leaders before they take public office. In fact, we have a responsibility to do so. If we do not take this responsibility seriously then we have no right to complain about the incompetence of our leaders. A democratic country deserves the leaders they get, and the effectiveness and competency of a country’s leaders are directly dependent upon the responsibility of her voters.

In the parable, we see the reluctance of the supposedly preferred and better leaders— the “tree” who wants to rule over nature is the thorn bush. Clearly the thorn bush’s aspirations are not honorable. The question we need to find an answer to is why the preferred candidates forego the opportunity to lead. Is it because of the enormous responsibility of the position of leadership? I tend to think so. This is something that we rarely consider fully when speaking about leadership. The moral responsibility a leader accepts is enormous. It is greater than the moral responsibility assumed by public figures who do not hold legislative office because political leaders have the power to create and change the laws of the land and thus materially affect not just the present but the future generations.

Let us never forget to take our own responsibilities seriously when we vote, and let us remember to pray for our leaders that they fulfill their responsibilities well. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

Reflection Question:

How seriously do I take the responsibility of voting in an election?

Holy Spirit, help me to be a responsible citizen of my country by setting a good example through the witness of my life and supporting those leaders worthy of my support.

Judges 9:6-15

6 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and proceeded to make Abimelech king by the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem. 7 When this was reported to him, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and standing there, cried out to them in a loud voice: “Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you! 8 Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves. So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ 9 But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my rich oil, whereby men and gods are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’ 10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 11 But the fig tree answered them, ‘Must I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’ 12 Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come you, and reign over us.’ 13 But the vine answered them, ‘Must I give up my wine that cheers gods and men, and go to wave over the trees?’ 14 Then all the trees said to the buckthorn, ‘Come; you reign over us!’ 15 But the buckthorn replied to the trees, ‘If you wish to anoint me king over you in good faith, come and take refuge in my shadow. Otherwise, let fire come from the buckthorn and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”

Sometimes we reach a point in our lives when we're at our lowest and we tend to doubt God's presence amidst our trials. When we feel lost, we must not forget that God has given us what we need even before we ask Him. God knows every single detail about us and He will never leave out anything in our life without pronouncing a blessing over us. Amen. Hallelujah!

P S A L M

Psalm 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R: Lord, in your strength the king is glad.

...You have granted him his heart’s desire; you refused not the wish of his lips. (R) 3 [4] For you welcomed him with goodly blessings, you placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 4 [5] He asked life of you: you gave him length of days forever and ever. (R) 5 [6] Great is his glory in your victory; majesty and splendour you conferred upon him. 6 [7] For you made him a blessing forever; you gladdened him with the joy of your face.

In today's gospel, envy of other people's fortune is evident because of the complaints of the workers in the vineyard who worked the whole day but was paid the same amount as those who worked for only a short time. The moral lesson of the story in my opinion is that we should stop comparing ourselves with others rather we should focus on how we can improve our work for God. Be confident that we have a just God who is always right in His judgment and decision. At the end of the day whatever work we have offered to God will always be rewarded accordingly because God will never cheat us rather He will always give more than we deserve. We can never really tell what's going to be until the last hour. All of us are saved by Jesus when He died on the Cross in Calvary more than 2000 years ago but continuously in the process of being saved every day. We've got to persevere in our faith and not be discouraged or dissuaded, distracted and tempted by the other side. We have all been forgiven through Jesus Christ but it is our response to this grace that matters most. It differs from person to person according to the capacity we have all developed. We can not be indifferent, neutral, take for granted or neglect this tremendous grace that is offered to us. We've got to take an active part in receiving this grace in order for us to gain the ultimate and total experience of God's gift to us. Amen. Hallelujah!

Matthew 20:1-16

...Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”