LEADERSHIP IS SERVICE, NOT DOMINION

XXV SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - James 3:16-4:3

In his letter, St. James warns us about the danger of jealousy and ambition; they lead to all kinds of infighting, of oppression, violence and war. It has been so since the beginning. I want to be first, so I envy all those that have superseded me. Cain murdered his brother, just because he got convinced that God had favoured Abel and ignored his offering (Gn 4); and Lamech boasted about his violence, which he presented as an affirmation of his power over anybody who dared to challenge him (Gn 4:23-24).

Since the beginning, the weak are thrown out of the way and trampled upon by the powerful, be it individuals, groups or nations. History does not remember the weak and those who were defeated. And the victorious puts forward his victory as a sign of righteousness. 

In war, all commit the same crimes, but only the ones who are caught, because defeated, are sentenced as criminals of war. In the second world war, the allies obliterated some towns in Germany, but they were never subject to trial as having committed crimes against humanity. The Americans killed thousands of civilians with two atomic bombs in Japan, but they never apologised and never were taken to court for crimes against humanity. 

Throughout history, the same attitude has dominated: the ones who are crushed got what they deserved; only the winners are praised, honoured and remembered. Humanity has been built on jealousy and ambition. Human society puts forward competition as being of supreme value. We promote competition at all levels, not only in sports, but also in school, at work and in politics. One must excel, reach the top or be thrown to dust and forgotten. In economy, we must have constant growth with increased profits. The ones who remain behind are forgotten or seen as useless. Even though many cannot cope with this competition, we demand more and more. 

It is not surprising that there are so many wars, and that peace doesn’t last long. St. James explains:

“Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force.” (James)

The Apostles were like everybody else; they had ambition and they were jealous. Within their group, there was a hidden struggle, fighting for the first positions, in order to have influence and power. And they would argue and quarrel about that. John and his brother James sent their mother behind the others’ back, in an attempt to corrupt Jesus and get the first places in Jesus’ kingdom. However, Jesus proposed a completely different attitude, and he was very clear on that, telling his disciples:

“If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” (Mk 9:35).

Then he proposed a child as the example of what they should be: totally dependent on God’s love and mercy and on others’ companionship. We are called to serve, not to dominate.