Despite the time difference, you are most likely aware that the World Cup in Mexico, Canada and the US has already kicked off. For dedicated Scottish fans, the drama began almost a month ago, when the Scotland manager announced the squad, sparking discussions in the media, online and in pubs about who had been selected or left out. In England, the debate was even hotter as the England manager dropped a few famous names from his selection. Similar dilemmas of selecting 26 players for the competition were faced by another 46 men in charge of their respective national teams. Having made up their minds, they inevitably, though mostly unwillingly, upset those left behind, despite their hopes or expectations. But that was only the first hurdle. The 48 football managers at the World Cup will have to repeat the process at least three times to select 11 players on the pitch and up to 5 substitutes; there’s a chance of upsetting almost half the team each time. The arrangement looks like a disaster waiting to happen, and I cannot imagine anyone wanting to be a football manager. Except that the queue is very long indeed, while the history of football provides great stories of successful managers and teams. The clue is in the title: a manager.
It’s a noun derived from the verb “to manage”, meaning to handle, direct, or control something. It is a versatile word used to describe supervision, resource allocation, and problem-solving. Good managers, not only in football, can get the best out of their team members while keeping them happy to play their part. The latter requires two things: trusting their manager and honestly assessing their own skills and capabilities. I remember, many years ago, as a student, being deeply upset and hurt by a fellow student’s angry remarks about my lack of physical prowess. I left the argument fuming, went for a walk around the huge seminary garden, and tried to pray. At one point, I realised he had been factually correct; having badly hurt my back several months earlier, I was unable to do any strenuous physical work and, in fact, had been banned from doing so by my doctor. I returned to my fellow student and apologised for the argument, and he did the same. That was an important turning point in my life: a realisation that I must contribute to my community in the way that I could, rather than as I had imagined. Since then, instead of pursuing my daydreams, I have embarked on developing the talents and skills I have, learning new ones as and when required, and using them for the benefit of the community I was part of.
In today’s gospel, Jesus selected twelve disciples from a larger group, “and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction.” Having spent enough time with the group – the episode is taken from Chapter 9 – Jesus knew their strengths and weaknesses and chose those he considered best equipped to carry out his mission. We tend to think that being elected to more prominent positions is a reward; when it is, we call it a promotion. But there is an important caveat, as spelt out by Jesus: “Whoever has been given much will be responsible for much. Much more will be expected from the one who has been given more.” (Luke 12:48) Or, in the modern version, “with great power comes great responsibility.” In my priestly career, a few times I have been offered various special roles that I accepted because I saw them as elevating my standing or, more bluntly, feeding my ego. In each of these roles, I quickly proved ineffective and consequently stepped down or was relieved of my duties. At the heart of those failures was a mix of self-importance and insecurity, which diminished my ability to assess myself honestly. When we take up or accept any position, however minor, a different attitude is required: one of service to others. When we strip the selected disciples’ “job description” in today’s gospel of its biblically specific language, we can see that Jesus sent them out on a relief mission. He appointed them to benefit others, not themselves, and made it very clear: “You received without paying; give without pay.”
Unlike in the world of professional football, each of us has been elected by God. We have different vocations and calls. We have different talents, skills, abilities and capabilities. Finding specific ways to employ them and fulfil our vocations, whether in personal, domestic or professional life, is our task and challenge. At the heart of everything we do, we must strive for the same attitude that drove Jesus, who “died for us while we were still sinners”, as movingly explained by St Paul in today’s second reading. In other words, Jesus sacrificed himself for us, not because we were worthy, but despite being sinners, to lift us out of our sinful state. This is a highly demanding model of service to others, not because they are deserving or good, but because they are in need. However, the more we practise, the better we get at it. Managed by the best manager in the universe, God himself, we can achieve greatness.
Image by Alexander Fox | PlaNet Fox from Pixabay
