By Tom Thomas –
Each year Lent rolls around, we get an opportunity to retreat a bit from the world, enter the state of solitude by giving up some of the things that we love and find more time for God. Especially in this always-on digital world, rarely does one get the space and time to retreat from it, and why for 40 days?
I was thinking a bit more on the 40-day aspect of Lent. We see the first mention of 40 days in the Book of Exodus where Moses fast and prays for his people as a precursor to the Lord giving the Ten Commandments to his people. It is mindboggling to think of the transformation of a brash, hot-headed stammerer and murderer into a leader who could fast for his people for 40 days and nights, (Exodus 24:18). This event was the precursor of Jesus going into the desert for 40 days and nights before starting His ministry, as covered in the Gospels of Mathew 4 1-12, Mark 1: 12-14, Luke 4:1-13. The desert experience gave Jesus the strength to withstand the coming trials and tribulations. What a great example we have of leadership before us in both these two examples. Looking into the lives of great saints like St Francis of Assisi and St Benedict, we find that they also retreat for extended periods of time to fast and pray in solitude.
A recent Bible study session I had attended contrasted the vastly different leadership style of Moses and Aaron. In Exodus 32:1-10, we see how Aaron gave in to the wishes of the people, when they were getting impatient in the physical absence of Moses, to make the Golden Calf – an earthly idol that brought no lasting benefit to the people. Aaron failed as a leader in aligning the expectations of the people with that of the Lord’s plans for them. Whereas, we see that with Moses constantly being aligned to the plan of the Lord, he was able to build a deep relationship with the Lord (there is no record of anyone else in the Bible, other than Jesus who was so close to the Lord as to have seen His back – Ex 33: 20-23). Through this deep relationship, Moses was able to plead for the people and turn the wrath of God from them, when He was displeased by their disobedience.
As leaders of our households, communities and businesses, what can we learn from the example of Moses, one of the greatest leaders who lead over 2 million people for 40 years in the desert towards the vision of a promised land. We learn that:
- We must fast and pray, in solitude for a period of time, in order for us to hear the voice of the Lord and His directions and plans for those under us entrusted to our care.
- We must entreat the Lord for the failings of our close ones, not to judge them harshly for their transgressions. If necessary we must be even be able to offer ourselves up to the Lord for their missteps away from Him (Ex 32:30-33).
- We must exhort our people always to remain close to the Lord and his teachings, even if they fall away at times. It is our responsibility.
So, this Lent, as I turn off my non-essential social media and digital communications’ mediums, give up my favourite food and drink, give up unnecessary gossip and other worldly idols that keep me away from building a closer relationship with the Lord; let me be inspired and strengthened by reading of the lives of great leaders like Moses in the Bible, as well as the spiritual readings and articles available on sites like Indian Catholic Matters and be enlightened by the Lord on how to lead those under my care, better.
Whenever I have those entrusted to me stray away from the path, let me keep in mind how Moses entreated with the Lord for those in a similar situation, and made sure that the people could understand their mistake and correct that.
As a human being, it is my nature to have a bit of Moses and Aaron in me. This can cause me to lead those in my care either rightly or wrongly. Let me be careful to follow closely how Moses lead his people and be inspired by his example.
Fasting, prayers and almsgiving – following the three pillars of lent over the next 40 days will surely help me lead better those entrusted to me.
In the end, I would like to quote from one of the greatest modern day contemplatives, the late Thomas Merton, who from the height of his fame as novelist in the world found his true calling as a Trappist Monk in solitude. The prayer in his book, Thoughts in Solitude reads:
““My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”