DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS

Monday, January 29, 2007        Translation of the Relics of Ignatios, God-Bearer of Antioch

1st Vespers 3 Hierarchs: Deuteronomy 1:1, 8-11, 15-17

Epistle: 2 Peter 1:20-2:9                                                                          Gospel: St. Mark 13:9-13

 

Leadership: Deuteronomy 1:1, 8-11, 15-17, especially vs. 15: “I took of you wise and understanding and prudent men”  At Vespers for the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, the Church reminds us that where the words and divine teaching of Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom have taken firm hold “in all the earth and sea....the regions are well organized by their divine laws, and are united in one Orthodox opinion.”  These men were leaders who laid down wise guidelines, clear expositions, and basic foundations for the Church’s subsequent life.  They were truly “wise, understanding, and prudent men” led of God to establish basic patterns for the governing and management of His Holy Church - not just in the fourth century, but through all the centuries of its history even to the present.

The two readings for the Feast are taken from what might be called the “farewell address and final testament” of another of great leaders of God’s People, the Prophet Moses.  In this first of two lections from the ancient Seer, he defines foundational principles for leadership that have remained effective and current during all the vicissitudes that have befallen the People of God through four millennia of history, including the ultimate revelation of God in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Quite simply, Moses outlines essential standards for leaders in the Church, guidelines for their appointment, and a description of the tasks common to all who are called upon to govern.

Leaders of God’s People should be “wise, understanding and prudent” (vs. 15), a point even stated earlier in verse 13, which is not read at the Vespers of the Feast.  By speaking of wisdom, the Prophet points beyond the sort of intelligence that is required in merely human enterprises.  In the Scriptures, wisdom always is traceable to God, Who, in the second Person of the Holy Trinity, is Himself known as Holy Wisdom.

We may be sure of finding wisdom in a man who exhibits basic fear of the Lord (Prov. 9:10) and who seeks God’s mind in all his ways.  Furthermore, true wisdom, when mediated through a godly leader, produces understanding of the needs, pains, hopes, and struggles of one’s fellow men.  God’s leaders must understand those they govern.  And finally, godly wisdom and understanding come generally to those who prove themselves through long, extensive training.  David, the exemplary King of Israel, began his development as a teenager serving in Saul’s court, but did not assume overt leadership even in his own tribe of Judah until he was thirty years old.  He was nearly forty when he began to reign over all Israel (2 Kngs. 5:5 LXX = 2 Samuel MT).

Leadership among the People of God always has been hierarchical, no doubt because all rule in the Church derives from a single Head - God the Lord.  Thus Moses appointed “as heads...commanders of thousands...hundreds...fifties,  [and] commanders of tens” (Deut. 1:15).  Yet, he directed the People to “choose...men according to your tribes” (vs.13), and it was from the people’s nominees that he then appointed their actual leaders.

No one man, nor leader of men, can govern single-handedly, as Moses knew (vs. 9).  Hence, subordinates are required to help cope with the full “weight and burden of [men] and [their] strife” (vs. 12).  The tasks of leaders of God’s people were and continue to be righteous judgment (vs. 16), impartiality (vs. 17), and hearing “the small and the great alike” (vs. 17) without the fear of men hampering or limiting their decisions.  Woe to any Church leader who succumbs to decision-making and action by popularity poll.  After all, every leader in the Church is able to refer difficult decisions to superiors, colleagues, and synods of Bishops (vs. 17).

O Master, fill Thy servants, the clergy of the Church, with all faith, love, power, and holiness through the inspiration and rich bounties of Thy holy and life-giving Spirit.

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