The Need for Leadership
Picture two armies fighting a battle. The front shifts as the commanders make moves. Different sections of each army move as their leaders direct them to where they are needed or to take advantage of an opportunity that they see. The battle doesn’t seem to be going anywhere as both armies are well disciplined, courageous, and well equipped. Neither side seems to be able to gain the advantage. Then one general senses a shift. A ripple moves through the opposing army, and to the general it seems to become confused. News soon reaches the general that the opposing general has fallen. The momentum shifts. The general immediately orders his forces to charge. Taking advantage of the confusion caused by the opponent’s lack of leadership, the remaining general’s forces attack and begin to rout their enemies.
A good leader can be the difference between victory and defeat. A good leader is one who acts in service to those under his authority. He guards them, cares for them, and provides for them. A good leader loves. Jesus is the preeminent model of masculine leadership, and His foster father, St. Joseph is right behind Him. Focusing on St. Joseph for this article, there are several things that jump out about him. First, his silence, second, his strength, and third, his faithfulness.
St. Joseph’s silence is a lot louder than one would imagine. It speaks volumes that one of the most important figures in the story of salvation is silent in the written words of that story. In the foreword to the book Man Your Post, Dr. Scott Hahn says, “It’s not the ideal we find in popular culture—where the ideal man moves through degrees of macho, from Rocky to Rambo. In Joseph, instead, we find a life that is silent so that God can speak. We find a man who reflects and prays before he acts. We find a man who cares more for his righteousness before God than his reputation before his neighbor.” Silence is a powerful tool, especially in today’s world of distractions and short attention spans. I encourage everyone to try practicing silence. Start small, maybe 5 minutes a day, and take that time to really quiet your mind and listen to what God has for you in that moment.
Strength is perhaps the most widely used measure of masculinity. Though often misused, it is not wrong to say that strength is essential to masculinity. Physical strength is a good thing, and everyone should take care of their body by strengthening it, but by far the greater strength is interior strength. St. Joseph is an amazing model of this. God always came first, and obedience to His precepts was paramount in St. Joseph’s life. Today, there is an astonishing lack of respect and obedience. It takes humility to submit yourselves to someone’s authority, and even greater humility to obey them. St. Joseph shows us that obedience (to those who hold legitimate authority over you) is the righteous thing to do.
This flows right into faithfulness. Obedience is part and parcel to faithfulness, and faithfulness to God is absolutely essential to flourishing. Faithfulness to God leads to abundance, and while I have no idea what that may look like for you, I will bet that it will look quite different from what you imagine. Faithfulness is the cornerstone of your mission. God’s faithfulness assures us that He is with us and taking care of everything. Our faithfulness is the key to receiving that great love. Yes, we fail, and we fail often. But God is still faithful, even when we’re not. Imagine the thoughts going through St. Joseph’s head at difficult points in his journey as Jesus’ foster father. Finding out that Mary was pregnant, the angel appearing in a dream, the birth of Jesus in the stable, the angel’s warning and the flight to Egypt, just to name a few. But throughout all this turmoil, St. Joseph remained faithful to God. Joseph trusted that God had a plan and would take care of them. This gave him the strength to be obedient. This week (maybe longer if the Spirit moves you so) take a good look at the life of St. Joseph. Look at his qualities and ask him to obtain for you the graces to imitate him.
