NAPUPUNO KA NA BA SA ATING MGA PINUNO?

I personally do. What can we do? Bash them in social media. Spread hatred about them. How about praying for them? Hah, what? May pag-asa pa ba siya o sila na magbago?

St. Paul says that we should pray for everyone. “I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity” - 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Jesus, in today’s Gospel (Mark 6:45-52), shows us what a good leader is. Let’s pray that our current & incoming leaders, especially in government, will possess these traits.

1. LAST MAN OUT. The VIP feeling leader usually arrives late & leaves early. He lets his minions arrive early to prepare for his grand entrance then he lets them stay behind to clean up. That’s not what Jesus does. In Mark 6:45-52 it says that "Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Beth-sa'ida, while he dismissed the crowd.” Jesus lets the team leave ahead of HIM while HE handles the last minute business with the audience. That’s a true leader!
2. PRAYER. "And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray” (Mark 6:46). A true leader knows that he has weaknesses so he allows God to fill in those areas. King Solomon prayed to God for wisdom so that he may rule God's people well. Always look for a leader that prays.
3. REMOVES FEAR & GIVES ASSURANCE. Some leaders do the opposite. They give fear & remove all forms of assurance. Jesus is the true leader because when the apostles were fearful HE says to them "Take heart, it is I; have no fear" (Mark 6:50). A true leader should make you feel safe.
4. JOINS YOU IN THE BATTLEFIELD. Some leaders send their army in the battlefield & waits for them to return. That is if they are lucky to be alive after the war 🙂 . True leaders join their team. Jesus "he got into the boat with them” (Mark 6:51). HE could easily snap HIS finger from a distant to calm the waves. Instead, HE joins them in the boat despite the threat of the raging waves.
5. BRINGS PEACE. Mark 6:51 says that "the wind ceased” when Jesus got in the boat. A true leader brings peace & harmony not hate & war. A leader brings peace because the people knows that HE loves & cares for them. Does your leader actions bring unity or disunity?

We need to voice out our concerns about our leaders’ actions & words. Hopefully they listen & change. But more importantly, we need to pray for them no matter how difficult it seems. They need God’s guidance as much as we do.

Lastly, Jesus is the best leader you can have. HE should be leading your life, every area of it. Did you already surrender your life to HIM? - alvinfabella@yahoo.com