Being A Servant Leader - Homily by Archbishop William Goh

Summary

The speaker reflects on the significance of the Feast of St. Peter, emphasizing the symbol of the chair representing authority and leadership. They discuss the concept of servant leadership, which involves not only serving but also teaching others to be servants. The speaker outlines three key responsibilities of a leader: preserving truth, fostering unity, and empowering others. They stress the importance of humility, patience, and the willingness to carry one's cross as part of leadership. The talk concludes with an encouragement to look to Christ for strength and guidance in leadership roles.

Takeaways

• 🗝️ The symbol of the chair represents authority and leadership, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership.
• 🛡️ Leaders are called to preserve and protect the truth, ensuring it is respected and upheld within their communities.
• 🔗 Servant leadership involves teaching others how to be servants, which is more than just serving; it's about fostering a community of service.
• 👥 The second responsibility of a leader is to preserve unity, encouraging truth-telling in a spirit of charity and humility.
• 🤝 Leaders must be peacemakers and mediators, fostering unity and preventing disunity within their groups.
• 🐏 As a shepherd, St. Peter's role was to strengthen his friends, illustrating the leader's duty to support and empower others.
• 💡 Empowering people is a key aspect of leadership, with leaders needing to delegate and trust in the abilities of their followers.
• 📚 The truth is a cornerstone of leadership, and leaders must be unafraid to speak it, even when it is difficult or unpopular.
• 🏆 The price of leadership includes carrying one's cross, embodying the suffering and challenges that come with the role.
• 🙏 Leaders must find strength in their faith and rely on divine wisdom to guide them through the trials of leadership.
• 🌟 True leadership is not about self-aggrandizement but about being a witness to and a conduit for the values and virtues one espouses.

Q & A

What is the significance of the 'chair' in the context of the script?

In the script, the 'chair' symbolizes authority and the office of leadership, emphasizing the importance of servant leadership.

How does the concept of servant leadership differ from traditional leadership according to the speaker?

Servant leadership, as described by the speaker, is not just about serving but also about teaching others how to be servants, which is a more profound and active form of leadership.

What are the three key responsibilities of a leader as outlined in the script?

The three key responsibilities of a leader mentioned in the script are: preserving and protecting the truth, fostering unity, and empowering others to be leaders.

What does the speaker mean by 'preserving and protecting the church by eating the church in the way of truth'?

The phrase suggests that leaders are entrusted with the duty to uphold the integrity of the church and its teachings by guiding it in accordance with truth and righteousness.

Why is unity important in leadership according to the script?

Unity is crucial because it reflects the cohesiveness and harmony within a community, and leaders play a vital role in nurturing this unity, which is essential for the community's well-being.

How does the speaker relate the concept of truth to the role of a leader?

The speaker emphasizes that leaders must not only preserve the truth but also communicate it with charity and humility, ensuring that the pursuit of truth does not lead to disunity.

What is the role of a leader in times of crisis according to the script?

In times of crisis, a leader is expected to act as a peacemaker and mediator, working to bring people together and restore unity, which requires patience and resilience.

What does the speaker suggest is the price of leadership?

The speaker suggests that the price of leadership is the willingness to carry the cross, which symbolizes the suffering and sacrifices that come with the responsibility of leadership.

Why is it important for leaders to rely on their faith in Christ, as mentioned in the script?

Relying on faith in Christ provides leaders with the strength and wisdom to face the challenges of leadership, especially during moments of darkness and when they feel lost.

What is the final equation presented by the speaker regarding leadership?

The final equation presented is a call to leaders to recognize that they cannot lead effectively without turning to the Lord for guidance and support, emphasizing the importance of spiritual leadership.

Outlines

00:00

🔱 Leadership and the Feast of St. Peter

This paragraph discusses the significance of the feast of St. Peter, the Apostle, and the symbolism of the 'chair' as a representation of authority. It emphasizes the concept of servant leadership, suggesting that true leadership involves not only serving but also teaching others to serve. The speaker outlines three key responsibilities of a leader: preserving and protecting the truth, fostering unity, and supporting others in their roles. The narrative also touches on the challenges leaders face, such as maintaining unity and the importance of patience. It concludes with the idea that leadership requires carrying one's cross, drawing a parallel to St. Peter's experiences and the necessity of faith in Christ for strength in leadership roles.

05:02

🙏 The Role of Faith in Leadership

In the second paragraph, the speaker delves into the necessity of faith in leadership. It poses a rhetorical question about the source of leadership, suggesting that true leadership cannot be self-appointed but must be guided by a higher power. The paragraph highlights the importance of having a leader who can provide solace during difficult times, drawing a parallel to Jesus as the ultimate leader who leads by example. The speaker encourages reliance on divine strength and wisdom, emphasizing the need for leaders to turn to God for guidance and support, especially in moments of darkness or when faced with the challenges of leadership.

Keywords

💡Chair of Saint Peter

The 'Chair of Saint Peter' refers to the cathedra or throne of Saint Peter, symbolizing the authority and leadership of the Pope as the successor of Saint Peter in the Catholic Church. In the video, this symbol is used to discuss the nature of leadership, particularly the idea that leadership should be a form of service and teaching others to serve.

💡Servant Leadership

Servant leadership is a philosophy where leaders prioritize the needs of others, especially team members, and ensure their growth and well-being. The video emphasizes that true leadership is not just about serving but also about teaching others to serve, which aligns with the concept of preserving and protecting the church's teachings.

💡Truth

In the context of the video, 'truth' is the set of teachings and values that the Church upholds. Leaders are tasked with preserving and protecting these truths, ensuring they are communicated accurately and in a manner that fosters unity and understanding, as exemplified by the speaker's reference to the responsibility of leaders to 'eat the church in the way of truth'.

💡Unity

Unity is a central theme in the video, referring to the harmony and cohesion within the Church and among its members. Leaders are urged to preserve unity, which is seen as a reflection of the truth being communicated in a spirit of charity and humility, and not as a source of division.

💡Submission

Submission in the video is discussed in the context of recognizing the importance of truth and the need for leaders to submit to the greater good, even when it challenges their personal views. It is about aligning oneself with the collective mission and the pursuit of truth, as opposed to individualism.

💡Peacemaker

A peacemaker, as mentioned in the video, is someone who works to resolve conflicts and bring people together. This role is crucial for leaders who must foster unity and address disunity within their communities, requiring patience and a commitment to reconciliation.

💡Empowering

Empowering, in the video, refers to the act of enabling others to lead and to take on responsibilities. It is part of the leader's role to not only lead but also to develop the leadership capabilities of others, ensuring the continuation of the Church's mission and values.

💡Cross

The 'cross' symbolizes the sacrifices and sufferings that leaders must endure as part of their commitment to leadership. The video discusses how leaders must be prepared to carry their cross, acknowledging the difficulties and challenges that come with leadership, and the necessity of relying on faith and divine strength.

💡Faith in Christ

Faith in Christ is presented as a source of strength and guidance for leaders. The video suggests that leaders find their strength in prayer and in their relationship with God, which is essential for navigating the challenges of leadership and for maintaining moral integrity.

💡Leadership and Suffering

The video discusses the inevitable link between leadership and suffering, suggesting that true leadership involves carrying a cross, which represents the sacrifices and hardships that come with the role. It is a reminder that leadership is not about privilege but about service and the willingness to endure difficulties for the sake of others.

Highlights

The feast of St. Peter's Chair is celebrated as a symbol of authority and leadership.

Leadership is defined as servant leadership, emphasizing service to others.

A leader's role is to teach others how to be servants, not just to serve.

Leaders are called to preserve and protect the church by guiding it in the way of truth.

The responsibility of leaders includes protecting the truth in both faith and morals.

Leaders must encourage unity and foster a community that speaks the truth in charity and humility.

Leaders should be peacemakers, mediators, and bring people together, even in crisis.

The role of a leader is to support others, especially in times of suffering.

Leadership involves empowering others to become effective leaders themselves.

Leaders must be ready to carry the cross, understanding that suffering is part of leadership.

The importance of forming faith in Christ for leaders to find strength and wisdom.

Leaders must rely on the strength that comes from God, not just their own.

The necessity for leaders to turn to the Lord for consolation in moments of darkness and loss.

Jesus as the ultimate leader who leads us into greener pastures by bearing the cross.

Leadership is not about personal gain but about serving and teaching others to serve.

The final equation for leadership is to recognize who is leading you and to follow a leader who witnesses the truth.

Transcripts

so today we celebrate the feasts of the

chair of sin Peter the Apostle of course

when we speak of the track

the chair is always a symbol of

authority it is the symbol of an office

next sense it is very important that

when we in leadership

it's a servant leadership so leadership

stop service not only to serve that is

one way of being a servant leadership to

serve but for me that is not enough we

must be a leader teaching how others

should suffer so he's not a servant

leadership in a sense of me okay I said

here at the camp that is only one thing

but to be a servant leader means to say

we want to teach others how to be

servants and so as the leader three

things we are taught to do of the first

thing we are called to do as a leader is

really to as well

gospel says st. Peter is supposed to

preserve and protect the church by

eating the church in the way of truth

and so as leaders we are those of you

who I the office here but we do we try

to protect the truth we try to ensure

that the truth is result that is our

responsibility as parents as well is the

same responsibility so the Holy Father

is given the given in vanity only

insofar when it comes to faith and

morals because the church really we are

called to be the one who preserved the

truth that has been given to us review

dress by God in the world

the second responsibility of a leader is

not just to preserve the truth it is to

preserve unity and I think this is where

a submission I think for me the greatest

challenge the breeze of the truth is

important to encourage the Congress who

say the truth but we always say the

truth previously spoken but it must've

spoken always in charity and humility

truth

we cannot be afraid of the truth if you

have rid of the truth then we have lost

our moral equality second thing it's not

only preserved through unity that is

also a big change and this is a change

from unity fostering unity is not easy

so leaders cannot destroy if original

brings about disunity then you don't

want leader leader the facility is a man

who plays the peacemaker mediation

crisis bring people together and this

takes a lot of patience because the

worst thing is as a leader we divide the

community

the duty of a leader as what happened to

Saint Peter was this prophecy is not

here the gospel is buttered out after

declaring Jesus with the price and Jesus

speaks smoke above his passion say Peter

says we should not happy you and Jesus

says get behind me Satan dead after his

fall it does Jesus say Peter

he must wait strengthen his friends and

so as st. Peter Kostis as the shepherd

but we do we need to support each other

in power people in ours we need to help

others to be what we call seven leaders

so my work is a bishop really the the

most - most inner part I think is ready

to speak the truth even though the truth

sometimes could not be heard properly to

preserve unity this the one that makes

my hair gray completely and the last

part what we call empowering people

there is a year stop easier to offer mr.

Bishop is our people the last boss I

said leader to do all these things you

know please I think Peter tells us you

know don't forget and that would be

I tell you myself

he says I'm a witness to the sufferings

Express so a little differential in the

stock way if you don't carry it across

you can be lethal so some people only

when the group army the shipper or the

owner the privileges the suffering so

that's why you can't get either without

carrying the cross that is part of life

you can I expect to be a parent without

getting across there is no way there is

no way it's the price of leadership and

we have to be ready to carry the cross

and this is where I think it's important

when skin to form our faith in Christ so

for me as a leader about you I find

strength every money as you pray the

responsiveness up my strength is we just

have to rely on the strength that comes

from God we need to rely on this wisdom

on this - oh you can't beat unless you

are first met so I want to ask you this

final equation you are either in August

who is giving you who is your leader

are you own leader if you only own

leader then you will beat them into the

beat we need a leader witness and the

leader across excrescences so there is

no way for me to assume leadership

unless we turn to the Lord who can

console us in those moments when we in a

valley of darkness he can encourage this

those times and we are lost the same

when we have heard those that many

wounded and we think of Jesus as the

great leader who has needed let us into

the greener pasture by a me