Several years ago, I was invited to attend an international interfaith conference in Italy. Many famous and important leaders, both spiritual and political, we're going to be present. In order to get free accommodation, I volunteered to assist at the conference. Shortly before it was due to begin I received a letter from the organisers saying, "We would like you to be the Chairman of the conference."
I was stunned, and alarmed! I had had no experience in this area, yet I was to be Chairman of a meeting to be attended by the Pope, the Dalai Lama, the Crown Prince of Jordan, plus many other world dignitaries. I was terrified!
Then I read the second page of the letter, where the job description of the Chairman was detailed: "Your duty will be to ensure that there are enough chairs for the participants in the different meeting rooms."
My heart-beat returned to normal and I burst out laughing, as I realised that the title "Chairman" had different meanings!
A Chairman is normally regarded as a leader, a very important person. He or she is probably the most important person in an organisation. With this in mind, we could quite accurately describe Jesus as the first Chairman of the Jewish movement that grew into the Church.
How He fulfilled this role is revealed in the Gospels. Each event, each story, each lesson completes the picture of Jesus.
In the Gospel of Mark (1:35), a particularly interesting aspect of Jesus' attitude to being a famous Chairman is described. He had done many wonderful things and He was truly "the man of the moment" in Palestine, the superstar of His time. However, rather than bask in the glory of His fame, we are told that He slipped away from the crowds to pray, then to go elsewhere where He wasn't well-known, to spread His message. He was conscious of having a job to do, and He was determined to do it.
Those in leadership roles are invited to reflect on the model provided by Jesus. But not only those in leadership....Also those of us who are community members rather than leaders (or "Chairmen") are constantly invited to ponder Jesus' words and actions....
Does Jesus want us to do more for Him? Maybe. More likely, however, He wants us to keep on doing what we are doing in our life-situations. Would it be unrealistic, though, to consider that He might like us to review what we do, and to see if there is a need to do things differently? Would He ask us to look at our attitudes to others, for example? Would He ask us to question our motives, the way we judge, the way we make choices? Would He ask us to consider if we really do reflect our Christian faith in the time and place we find ourselves located?
Whether we are Chairpersons, or the people who move chairs, in the big picture it doesn't matter much. Where our hearts are centred is the real issue. Jesus constantly reminds us of this.