June 10, 2014
St. Francis de Sales says: “Praise be to Jesus.”
“I wish to describe to you the qualities of a good leader. Such a leader never uses his position to oppose the rights of others. A good leader does not seek his own advantage; be it more power than is his to have, material gain, or an inflated reputation. Humility and Holy Love are the most important attributes in the heart of any leader. If these two virtues are present, he has the foundation of sound leadership.”
“When humility and Holy Love are missing, the groundwork for the abuse of power has been laid. It is then the person in leadership is not fair-minded, but self-oriented. This opens the door to dictatorship or, at the very least, insensitivity to the needs of his followers.”
“Caring, sensitive leadership encourages faithful followers and unity. It is then the flock sees the shepherd as truthful and trustworthy. The self-centered leader, who jealously guards his territory without regard to righteousness, promotes disunity amongst all.”
“I tell you these things, as good leadership is too scarce in the world today. You must know what to look for. Leaders who try to destroy good, are not working with the general [common] good in mind. As you have been told, good cannot oppose good. These days, there is too much authority for authority’s sake and not leadership for the general welfare of the public.”
“The world needs this Message.”
Read Titus 1:7-9
For a bishop, as God’s steward, must be blameless; he must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of goodness, master of himself, upright, holy, and self-controlled; he must hold firm to the sure word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to confute those who contradict it.
June 11, 2014
St. Francis de Sales says: “Praise be to Jesus.”
“I came yesterday and described to you the attributes of a good leader. Today, I wish to describe to you the attributes of a good follower. A follower places himself at the disposal of his leader – whether it is to serve in some distinct physical way, in some mental capacity, or just to pray for the one who leads. This last designation of prayer warrior is the most important, as leadership is so under attack these days.”
“The follower must be careful as to where and how he is being led. He has the responsibility of his own salvation first and foremost. He must not allow himself to be subjugated to any evil by anyone in a leadership role. Evil can be insidious in its attempts to oppose the Kingdom of God; or it can be obvious – opposing prayer, opposing the fruits of the Spirit and promoting evil.”
“Therefore, it is important that leadership be scrutinized as to its motives and discerned in the light of good and evil. If a leader objects to such scrutiny, he may be doing so as he sees himself in the position of compromised leadership.”
“As important as it is for a leader to define good from evil, it is of even greater importance for a good follower to do so. If good cannot be discovered apart from evil, how can a leader or a follower know the Truth?”
“Be well composed, then, in your discernment. Do not be a slave to darkness.”
Read Ephesians 5:6-13
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them, for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of the things that they do in secret; but when anything is exposed by the light it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.
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