Leadership
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
8 Jun 2003
This is only possible because God is spirit, not material and certainly not male (or female), although Jesus' preferred term for God was "Father". The Spirit of God is real, powerful and invisible, like love or truth.
Today is Pentecost Sunday, the Christian feast of the Holy Spirit, or God among us. My annual Pentecost Letter to young people this year addresses the theme of leadership. Good leaders are touched by the Spirit of God. Evil leaders such as Stalin or Hitler or Pol Pot follow the spirit of evil.
Jesus is a great leader. More people have chosen to follow him than any other person in history. His teachings continue to strike us as unusual. They bring life and hope, but some are difficult.
His teachings on leadership are also unusual. When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples he gave us an example of servant leadership that he wants us to follow.
Many times since a was a boy a have heard it said that unless people stand for something they will fall for anything. This is almost completely true.
Genuine leaders must have sound principles, personally chosen. These principles will not be self-centred, but directed outwards from the heart, based on an understanding of what is good for society.
It is often claimed that Edmund Burke, the great Irish statesman of the eighteenth century said "It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph". This truth is not found anywhere in his writings, but he certainly did write, with equal truth: "when bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one".
Therefore genuine leadership always involves some sort of struggle to prevent the advancement of evil; in our families, parishes, schools, business, politics, even sport and the arts. Good people should work together.
Good leaders are enthusiastic and able to inspire enthusiasm in others. They can accept criticism, and their leadership is enhanced by composure and courtesy under pressure.
Sometimes this struggle for good is unpopular and misunderstood. Often leaders need courage, "grace under pressure" to take these stands.
The first such occasion when we go against the flow is often the most difficult. Every time we take a stand it becomes a little easier next time. Every time we fail to rise to the challenge it becomes harder. When we regularly face the small challenges, we are better able to resist grave temptations.
When a was educated years ago, again and again, we were urged to stand on our own feet, make up our own mind, not go with the crowd. This was good, indeed invaluable, advice. St. Paul had it right in his letter to the Romans "Do not be conformed to this world". (c12).
