Hope and leadership

In today’s first reading (1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1), a tall and handsome young man is singled out to be the leader of a nation.

It is a moment of hope: a moment when people have a sense that this man has been chosen by God for the good of the people.

We know, of course, that all of this hope would eventually be crushed. The young man would turn out to be corrupt and impious. He would ultimately fail in his duties and die by his own hand.

Many times in history has this pattern been repeated: the hopes of the people are placed on a new leader and those hopes are cruelly destroyed.

The leaders among us can indeed be instruments of God and reasons for hope, but success comes from the people themselves and ultimately from God.

It is good for people to hope, but it is essential that people are vigilant, active, and – most importantly – faithful to God and God’s ways.