Dare Great Things For Christ

We all know the value of diplomacy.  We all know the value of consideration and tolerance.  There is also a value in the ability to speak clearly what is on our mind in a persuasive fashion.  St. Peter demonstrates this the day of Pentecost and Fr. Nathan wants to look at that with you!

Every leader needs to take initiative.  It’s the same for St. Peter and for the apostles of his day.  How did St. Peter move the church forward during her darkest times?  Let’s take a look at the Acts of The Apostles, Chapter 1 verses 12 and following to find out. 

Every leader has a call. Every call has a story.  St. Peter was called by Christ to dare great things, but he was called to dare great things because he was loved by Christ and knew it.  Discovering Christ’s love for you gives courage and incentive to strike out and follow him on the paths where he leads.

In my work helping cultural and business leaders grow deeper in their faith, I have had the occasion to preach several times on the life of St. Peter.  I would like to share some of my thoughts with you now – looking at Peter and asking ourselves what was his leadership style?  How did God use and form him to be the rock upon which he built his church? 

Without a doubt the Virgin Mary remains one of the central figures that defines the Christian faith. But what does Mary have to say to leaders?  In this month of May, dedicated to her, I would like to explore with you some thoughts about Mary and leadership.

One of the hot topics today is that of the priesthood.  People think all the time that priests are those who lead Mass, who preach, who distribute the sacraments.  But sometimes they forget what the bible teaches – that all of us are priests in Jesus. What does this mean for us who are business leaders?  How can we live out our function as priests of Jesus Christ in the world? 

One of the great things for the entrepreneur is that of not quitting.  But what are we supposed to found our hope on?  Why is it that I wouldn’t quit when life is so hard and business often seems prone to failure?  The Resurrection shines through and the power of the Christian impels us toward a business optic rooted in optimism.

We all know the value of separating our work life from our private life.  But are we always aware of the value that could come by integrating the two?  What would change about my personal life if I brought my work and dedication home? What would change about my work life if I integrated the values that I hold as an individual person into it? These questions have immense potential to change the trajectory of our lives.

All of us are engaged in business.  What difference does faith make?  How is it that my faith in Jesus Christ and His teachings will really impact my life as a professional in this world?  Do the two intersect?  Pope Francis thinks that they do.  I’d like to look at the difference that it makes for someone to know Jesus Christ from the heart.

The very first Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis centered on the theme of evangelization. What does his message have to say to us involved in the secular world in professions that don’t seem directly involved in the life of the evangelizer?  How can we be missionary disciples today?