Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, 'The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.
'You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted.
We have just completed the first Presidential Election in Ireland in fourteen years. For many people it is the first one they can remember. In the process seven candidates put themselves before the people as potential holders of the most senior position in the land. Seven people put their lives before the electorate in the hope of being selected and each of them had a grueling time. Private details of family and business were explored and examined, and for some of them the experience was to say the very least difficult. Only one could be chosen and after all the campaigning, canvasing and debating the election is over. Only one could be chosen; for the next seven years Mr Michael D. Higgins will be President of Ireland.
Now taking the personalities out of the equation, the entire business of picking a new president was a remarkable business. Some candidates has posters, smiling effigies of would be leaders peering from lamp posts and bridges, everywhere smiling, everywhere presenting themselves as someone to trust, someone to be trusted in. Others sent letters, their faces beaming from the glossy publications, explaining in detail what they wanted us to accept and vote on. There was never a question of a doubt about their ability to be Head of State, what they had on offer made perfect sense. At the end of the day one had to be chosen, obviously the one in the post box or looking in your window from the close by street lamp was the obvious choice. At any given moment there were seven obvious choices for the prized 'No 1' in our prized proportional representation. If not father, teacher or rabbi - they all wished to be called President.
I cannot help but draw parallels to what I have seen and heard in the last few weeks with the Word of God today. In an election everything is done to attract attention. Be it complaining about the age of one or the record in public life of another, it was most important to be seen and heard, so that the voter will have been attracted to attention. Nice ties and impressive designer dresses, take the place of broader phylacteries and longer tassels. Being greeted obsequiously in the market squares took place in schools and active retirement groups. It did not matter who you talked to once it looked good, garnering another few votes as you move along.
The Gospel today points to a different way or style when it comes to leadership. Jesus says that to put yourself in the first place can be a dangerous business. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will exalted. To attempt to put yourself in the first place runs the risk of disappointment when the self delusion we create for ourselves turns out to be a bottle of smoke. Every misjudgement, every error, every sin of your life is on display for the whole nation to see.
No one going for election feels they are not worthy of the post they look for. Despite all the talk of being servants of the people, it is obvious that a candidate must always put them selves forward with confidence. Jesus says 'the greatest among you must be your servant.' Not just in talk but in action. As a nation reflects, we have a chance to ask the very basic question of ourselves 'am I at peace with myself so that humbled or exalted, because I have always done what was right? if we all lived for the other, how great a world we would have - everyone at the service of everyone else. The crazy thing is that it is possible - only thing it costs and the cost can only be paid in one currency - humility. Rare stuff and like cod liver oil - often hard to take. We have only one master and you are all brothers and sisters. May Jesus give us the grace to be like Him and create a world fit for his Kingdom.
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