What Every Christian Leader Needs to Hear

0:00Welcome to the morning offering, your daily call to prayer. Pray with us every day, right here on the podcast and in your inbox. Learn more at morningoffering.com. Hey y'all, welcome to your morning offering. My name is Father Brad Doyle and today is September 6th, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Let's pray. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day. For all the intentions of your sacred heart and union with your holy sacrifice to the mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians, and in particular the intentions of the Holy Father this month. Amen. I'm the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit. Today's first reading from Ezekiel, don't make me have to go to confession. Maybe you get this on the Catholic company by the way, it's my favorite mug.

1:02If it says, and dope is highlighted, you know, don't make me have to go to confession. The first reading today from Ezekiel reminds me of Gregory the Great's preaching to bishops. You son of man, I have pointed watchmen of the House of Israel. When you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. If I tell the wicked, a wicked one, you shall surely die and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked from his way, the wicked shall die for his guilt that I will hold you responsible for his death. This is part of these Ezeka worries, the bad shepherds. If you don't preach what I tell you to preach, then whenever the person doesn't follow what I preach or what I say, I'm the whole you accountable. They might even go to heaven. Gregory says this about good bishops. It's about the virtue of meekness. Because we think meekness means like weak.

2:03Meek isn't weak. It's more of what Christ was, which is supremely powerful and yet super controlled. Listen list, the highest position is well governed when the person in charge controls vices rather than his brethren. The person controls the power he has received well who knows both how to hold and condemn it. So a person who has power who isn't a position of power, whether that's fatherhood or priesthood, being a pastor, being a bishop, being a leader in the civic order, you should be able to condemn your own power. That's what St. Gregory saying to bishops. Like you hold it well when you know how to hold it and condemn it. He controls it well who knows how to raise above rise above sins with and how to be made equal to others with it. So like it's not, this is the both hand because people want to say like, oh, we shouldn't

3:04kiss Pope's rings and we shouldn't call them your excellency because no, he says a person is a good leader when they can receive praise because of their office, but they can also be with people and how to be made equal to others with it. That's important. How does a priest, how does a bishop know that he's equal as a Christian? It reminds me of St. Augustine said, I'm a bishop for you, but I'm a Christian for myself. This has been your reflection for today. If it was helpful for you, go to morningoffering.com and sign up. We'll be in your inbox every morning. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad then. Thanks for listening today. Be sure to like, share and subscribe to our YouTube channel. The morning offering is a production of Good Catholic, the media division of the Catholic Company. For more faith-filled podcast and videos, visit goodcatholic.com.