Following the Leader

 Today is Good Shepherd Sunday, which has us reflect on what it means to be a servant leader. Our teacher, of course, is Jesus.
 
In our society today, many leaders succeed when they put themselves ahead of the interest of others.  In other words, this happens when they see others as competitors—sometimes even to squash—on their rise to the top.  When I was first out of college and entered the ad business I have to admit I fell into this kind of thinking.  (I’m embarrassed to say I even bought a book called Leadership Secrets of Attila the Hun!)
 
But Jesus shows us true leadership is looking out for others.  We’re meant to build up each other’s strengths and to ensure no one is lost or left behind.  Right now it’s good to see that even the business world has discovered this Christian truth.  In fact, the book I’m now recommending is Strengths Based Leadership which is all about zeroing in on the needs of people and building up their strengths.
 
A current strengths-based leader is Pope Francis who just published his third apostolic exhortation called Rejoice and Be Glad!  He wants all of us to realize that living the beatitudes, living the Christian life—in other words, following Jesus, the Good Shepherd—works and leads us to happiness.  We’re all meant to be holy, but a call to holiness that’s not meant to be unachievable.  Holiness is following Christ.  And all of us can do that.
 
He writes: “Do not be afraid of holiness. It will take away none of your energy, vitality or joy. On the contrary, you will become what the Father had in mind when he created you, and you will be faithful to your deepest self.”
 
Speaking of becoming who God created us to be, we celebrate the servant leaders and good shepherds among us.  We’re pleased to announce our own Lynn Howard has been named our St. Hubert Woman of the Year and will be honored by the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women along with other area servant leaders on May 2. 
 
Lynn has been an active member of St. Hubert her whole life and has truly given fully of herself in many ways.  She not only is an administrative assistant at the parish office, she goes above and beyond in volunteering.  She is generous, kind, talented, compassionate and a true servant leader.  She cares for our community like a mother cares for her children.  She has been a good shepherd to so many of us, and it’s a blessing to recognize the person she is.
 
Finally, our St. Hubert School Student Council is once again showing their own servant leadership by asking students at the school to donate to our area food pantries.  After collecting food for the Soup-er Stadium Challenge last fall, out of compassion for our own neighbors, they didn’t want to overlook the Schaumburg food pantries either.  Hence this spring food drive. It warms the heart to see what good shepherding is all about, especially when we discover it in our future leaders!
 
St. Hubert is blessed with many good shepherds.  Thanks for all you do to make our parish the place it is.   

--Fr. Mike