Dear Parishioners,

Deep down within us, there is an innate desire or instinct to be number one and it runs through the entire gamut of life! Alfred Adler, a psychotherapist said that this basic instinct, 'to be important' is the dominant impulse of human life. Our first cry as a baby is to gain attention! All through our childhood, this instinct is a major obsession. In our adult life, we still have that basic desire to lead the parade. It acts like a vitamin supplement for our egos! We are little bundles of ego! We seem to crave for honor, status and power.

So, in the Gospel when we find the two disciples, James and John, doing something similar we are not too surprised. They obviously wanted the most prominent positions when Jesus entered into His glory. This bold request naturally triggered off jealousy and resentment in the other ten disciples. For they perhaps secretly wanted the same themselves or at least, didn’t want to be upstaged by the two. The argumentation might have been rather heated when Jesus placed before them two 'paradigms of governance': one, worldly and the other, Godly. Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant."

There is a difference between power and authority. Power is usually physical. Authority, on the other hand, is usually moral and it is an outcome of deep spiritual experience. That is why "power without authority could be dangerous". As human beings we all exercise some power over others: parents over children, elders over youngsters, teachers over students, executives over employees, priests over people and so on. Let us ask ourselves: Do we induce fear through power or earn respect through authority? Do we love and serve those entrusted to our care?

"The demon in power is pride. True power has its aim to set people free, where pride is determined to dominate. True power enhances relationships, pride destroys them." [Richard Foster]

When some people praised a priest for the power he wielded over others, a sage commented, "This priest is no religious leader." The people protested, "What, then, is his function?" The sage replied, "To inspire, not to legislate; to awaken, not to coerce; to love, not to regulate; to serve, not to be served."

This Sunday is our 'World Mission Sunday'. We are called to be a "servant church" in the image of "The Servant, Jesus. May Almighty God richly and abundantly bless each and every one of us that we may always be of service to one another and become a part of this world Mission in uplifting the poor and the needy.

May God bless us all.

Father Lawrence