The physical houses in which we live and make our homes are only sustainable if they have a sturdy foundation. If the foundation is bad, then everything built upon it will eventually crumble.There is no benefit to having central air, beautiful windows, or a gorgeous kitchen if it will all wash away or falter. This is why we build the treasures of our lives upon something we can trust. If there is a problem with the foundation, before we do anything else, we must address it or everything else will be in vain. 

The analogy of a strong foundation applies not only to the idea of a home, but to the notion of leadership as well. Too often, we think of leaders as sitting on the top of a pyramid and they direct an organization from above, clipping away at excesses and making demands for change. It's not uncommon for us to see this type of management in work, in schools, and even in religious institutions. But a different notion of leadership is that leaders don't rule from on high, but support an organization's work from below. For my part, leaders who I see serving and empowering others are leaders who foster organizational success at many levels. 

Which is why this Sunday's Gospel is so interesting. After Peter makes a profound profession of faith, Jesus says to him, "So I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18). Catholics point to this passage as a rationale for indicating that Peter, and his successors, would be the leaders of the Church for all generations. 

At the same time, many Protestants read this same passage and deny the claim. Not to overamplify the disagreement, but I wonder if it has to do with how the two groups understand leadership? 

If Jesus wanted to, he could have said to Peter. "You are the head of the Church and I want you to be in charge of everyone. Give very explicit directions to everyone and when they fall out of line, be the one the lay the hammer down on them." Jesus didn't. He indicated that Peter's leadership would be the foundation. Jesus entrusted to Peter the leadership of supporting others and lifting them up. 

I don't want to throw Protestants under the bus on this issue. It isn't that they misconstrued Saint Peter's leadership on their own. The Catholic Church of history has held part of the blame. We have often perpetuated the notion that the successor of Saint Peter (the Pope) is the equivalent of a king. He isn't. His leadership is not to be that of earthly powers and political governance. He is to be the foundation that lifts up the mission of the Church and the People of God.  

In the recent decades of the Church, I believe we see the application of the Pope's mission ever more acutely. Recent Popes have done an incredible service to us by their example. They have chosen not to be lifted up and paraded around like a monarch. Instead, they strive to be at the service of the Church's mission by lifting others up. 

To foreshadow the work of the Church in the coming months, Pope Leo XIV is taking even further steps in demonstrating that this kind of leadership, the leadership instituted by Christ, will continue. He has invited a number of Church leaders to gather in Rome in the month of October in order to discuss the ongoing implementation of Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love). This document was the apostolic exhortation (which is an elaborate way of saying it is clarification and promotion of Church teaching from the Pope) that was written in 2016 by Pope Francis. 

I do hope that many of us will rejoin the Pope in conversing about Amoris Laetitia and how it invites us into continuing to nurture the bonds of love in both regular and irregular constructions of the family. But rather than address Amoris Laetitia in this brief letter, I hope that we will see the implementation of leadership that Pope Leo is taking in light of the Gospel reading for today. Rather than invite church leaders into the Vatican and just tell them what he thinks, Pope Leo is setting up an invitation to dialogue, reflection, and mutual response. His leadership is foundational to the way the Church is called to be and called to lead. By "Church," I'm not just naming the people who work in a diocese or parish office and their staff. I'm naming the way all of us are called to go out into the world and lead. In our offices, courtrooms, corporations, firms, classrooms, worksites and more! In all we do, we're meant to be a foundation stone that supports others from below, not lording over them from above. 

If we can do this, then like Saint Peter, like Pope Leo XIV, and like so many others who lead through service, we will be leaders for the world in the name and example of Jesus. 

Movie on the Turf

We will have a family movie on the turf on Sunday, August 30. All are welcome; please join us!

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