“As he (Jesus) passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed Jesus.”
Mark 2:14
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 93 years ago today. He was known as a great leader, who stood up with integrity for civil rights. We celebrate King's birthday every year on the third Monday in January. In the Book of Samuel, we hear how God called Saul to be a leader: Israel’s first king. Saul was attractive, with some commendable characteristics. But he lacked integrity. He envied David and tried to murder him. Saul’s life ended badly.
In the Gospel, Jesus calls Levi (Matthew) to follow him: considered a scoundrel by fellow Jews because he collected taxes and turned the funds over to the Roman occupiers. But Matthew had integrity. He became an apostle, a great evangelizer whose life led to a glorious martyrdom.
All of us possess leadership qualities we can call forth. We can inspire people to live purposeful lives in light of our ultimate destiny: eternal life with God and one another. We can generate trust by being truthful. We can focus with a clear vision by virtue of the gift of faith. Above all, we can aim to possess moral character, an ethical sense of what’s right and wrong, and always strive to do the right thing. Yes, leadership ultimately is about integrity. We can live as leaders in our families, our workplaces, and our communities.
Do I strive to have leadership qualities, especially integrity?
Lord, give me the courage to stand up for what's right.
Today’s Reflection is by:
Fr. Kevin Mackin OFM
Did you know...
Fr. Kevin E. Mackin, OFM, of St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, has served in parish ministry and chaplaincy, and as a college president and professor. His articles and books include Enjoying God's Gifts; Get Thee Behind Me, Satan: Rejecting Evil; and Christian Unity: The Next Step 'That They May All Be One.' His website is www.FatherKevin.com.
