How to be GREAT

Father John Hollowell

Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, October 16 and 17, 2021

“Those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”

The Apostles desire greatness and Jesus says the key is a willingness to serve.

10 days ago, our youth groups were reflecting on the virtue of Magnanimity, which just means a striving for a greatness of soul. We watched a video put out by the Knights of Columbus on this virtue. It talked about this very Gospel passage, and what it means to be a great leader: SERVICE

You can strive to be the best janitor, the best husband the best wife, the best parent, the best student the best plumber you can be…wherever you find yourself you can strive for becoming great, and that will be attained in proportion to how well you serve those under you.

I find great value in getting down among the trenches with you all, setting up tables and chairs for dinners or Oktoberfest, setting up stuff for the youth group, helping clean up after events, and not leaving until the cleaning is done. Trying to help fix things when I can, going out once a month to the sick and shut ins, helping set up for Mass – I truly feel that there is no job in the parish that I am above.

And I think, because of that approach, I think I am a better leader.

On your sports teams, if you are a star or a senior, do you lord it over those under you or do you help carry out the bag of balls to practice even though it is not expected?

At work, do you help those under you with their tasks, even though you could tell them to do it themselves?

At the parish, do you help out even though it is not required nor expected?

In your family, do you lord it over your siblings or help them accomplish their task?

“Those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant.”

The Apostles wanted to be APPOINTED to leadership positions, but Jesus was a very practical guy. He encourages servant leadership precisely for the reason that it is MORE EFFECTIVE than a simple appointment to a position! May we trust in Jesus, may we seek to be great not by simply being put in a position of authority, but by earning the trust of those who we have been asked to lead.