“With mercy and forgiveness, God goes beyond justice, he subsumes it and exceeds it in a higher event in which we experience love, which is at the root of true justice.”
– Pope Francis
Sometimes I really dislike the duties of my job. I am in love with the mission, but sometimes this job (and I imagine a lot of other leadership positions) can feel like a series of dueling doors, where regardless of which one you choose, behind each one there is almost a certain guarantee you will be disappointing someone. Yet, you must keep choosing doors. After a string of weeks that felt like I was constantly walking into leadership rooms into which I either wasn’t invited or did not want to enter - but had to anyway - I began to open the door to a pity party I felt I quite deserved. “It’s just not fair,” I thought as I reflected on my latest leadership challenge.
As I stewed during Sunday Mass, still replaying the week’s “injustices” in my head, I realized I was completely tuned out. I shook myself out of it enough to hear myself utter the response during the Eucharistic prayers, “It is right and just.” At that point, we were talking about worshipping the Lord, but I couldn’t get that phrase out of my head the rest of the day. Right and just. Up until that point, I probably would have considered the two words synonymous. Then, I thought about the leaders I admire the most. They have integrity. They always do what’s right, but they rarely get what I think they deserve, whether recognition, respect, or support. Still, they choose the door, walk through it, and probably don’t throw quite as elaborate pity parties as I do.
As a leader and a disciple, is my notion clear of what is right and what is just? Is my understanding of justice focused on what I believe I deserve or what is right in the eyes of the Father? Jesus, the ultimate model of leadership, didn’t receive what was just in the cross. He chose the ultimate right.
I decided it was both right and just to give thanks to the Lord for the doors I get to walk through despite whatever challenges they may bring. As we give thanks to the Lord our God this week, let’s choose to do what’s right, not because we know we’ll get what we think we deserve, but because we believe it’s what He deserves.
CLI serves Church leaders, helping them rediscover their potential and forming them to be more intentional with those they serve.
CLI helps empower and energize Catholic leaders by providing focus and courage to engage the culture with an apostolic mindset.
CLI provides vision and hope about the future of the Church with a humble, yet strategic approach.
