Word to the Wise
Monday, August 3, 2015 - Monday in the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
[Num 11:4b-15 and Matt 14:13-21 or, in Year A, Matt 14:22-36,1031]"I cannot carry all this people my myself, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face this distress." [Numbers]
Moses is complaining to God about his burden of leadership. The Israelites are complaining because they are bored with eating manna every day out in the desert! Anyone in leadership can identify with the situation. I quote this passage and one other in Exodus 18:13-27 at retreats for priests and deacons because they are two of the greatest examples of learning to delegate responsibility. In Exodus, Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, tells Moses that he is going to burn out if he insists on making all the decisions great and small. Jethro's advice is to divide the group into smaller units and appoint leaders at those levels for most decisions. The most important stuff should come to the top, but the rest can be decided at a lower level. Sounds like common sense, right? Well, I'll bet we all know leaders who have that problem. In today's passage, Moses complains directly to God and God tells him the same thing: "Delegate!" The passage ends before God "takes some of the spirit that is on Moses" and gives it to others to help him run the show.
Leadership in the church has suffered from the same problem. Power is like some kind of precious jewel to some folks that they cannot bring themselves to share. But then they complain about the stress and difficulty of making all the decisions! Pope Francis has been giving a good example delegation in his reform of the central government, and his stress on collegiality is strengthening the hand of local bishops. There is more to come on that front, which makes it an exciting time in the church. Move over, Moses! AMEN
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