BY: ED GIGANTI
READING
Leader
A reading from the Book of Exodus:
Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian.
Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God.
There an angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As
he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not
consumed. So Moses decided, "I must go over to look at this remarkable
sight, and see why the bush is not burned."
When the Lord saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out
to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am."
God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place
where you stand is holy ground. "I am the God of your father," he
continued, "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. The
cry of the children of Israel has reached me, and I have truly noted that the
Egyptians are oppressing them. Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead
my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."
But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead
the children of Israel out of Egypt?" He answered, "I will be with
you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring
my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain" (Ex
3:1-6, 9-12).
REFLECTION
This story, with its burning bush and "holy ground" reference, is
more than familiar. In our theological understanding of ministry, this is a
paradigm story of God calling forth a great leader to be the instrument of God's
work.
For a ministry in search of leaders for the future, a few details from this
familiar story suggest a prophetic role for those of us currently at work in
Catholic health care. First, this passage from Exodus tells us that an angel
of the Lord appeared to Moses as a bush aflame. That got his attention. But
might we also attract potential leaders to our ministry by our example, by our
fire? We could be, through visible, faithful practice of virtuous leadership,
the angels that cause gifted people to look closer at careers in the health
ministry.
In the story, God calls Moses to "Come, now!" There is an immediacy,
an urgency, in that call that we should emulate. The founders and foundresses
of our ministry were not shy in asking people to join them in their work of
healing. Nor should we be. Is there a neighbor who seems suited to the health
ministry or an employee ready to move up to a leadership position? Could you
invite them? Mentor them?
The story ends with Moses' skepticism and lack of confidence for the task
assigned him. And God replies, "I will be with you." New leaders in
the health ministry may feel unsure of their abilities to preserve and enhance
the ministry identity of Catholic health care organizations, but through the
formation programs under way and efforts that will continue to develop, God
will be with them, speaking through us, their colleagues.
PRAYER
God of the prophets,
as you did with Moses,
you continue to call leaders to do your work.
Like Moses, I offer my humble "Here I am."
I offer myself as an instrument.
I offer the fire of my commitment to your healing ministry to captivate future
leaders with possibilities for themselves.
I offer my eyes and ears and mind and heart to find these leaders and my voice
in invitation as the sound of your call.
Let me always remember that this is your mission, your work, and trust in your
promise.
Amen.
Ed Giganti
Senior Director
Ministry Leadership Development
Catholic Health Association
"Prayer Service," a regular department
in Health Progress, may be copied without prior permission.
Copyright © 2005 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
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