Peacethinker Obama

Like many others, I was surprised by Barack Obama’s Nobel accolade. Should we compare him to other peace prize laureates such as Jimmy Carter, Jose Ramos-Horta, Nelson Mandela, Shimon Peres, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mikhail Gorbachev, the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, Lech Walesa, Martin Luther King, Albert Schweitzer? In 120 years the prize has been awarded 97 times to individuals and organisations. Many of the laureates had already found great fame, and had been recognised as world class leaders, bureaucrats, emissaries, politicians, churchmen, freedom seekers. Their combined impact on world affairs is immeasurable. But Obama?

In my first real job as a junior clerk, I wondered how I would ever make it up the ladder to success. My bosses seem to have such extraordinary knowledge, could pay such attention to detail, and commanded the respect of staff. Yet, in hindsight, they were ordinary human beings, had lived and worked hard to achieve what I now see as modest success. They had hopes and dreams, visions for a better world, for prosperity, to see their children’s children grow to adulthood. My father was one of these men. So, Nobel laureates are human beings like us: they eat and sleep, go to work, have families, watch their spending, negotiate traffic, watch TV.

I want to say that each of us is a potential laureate: we might never receive recognition for the contributions we make, but I can assure you, that in the right places it will be counted.

The gist of Mark’s Gospel this coming 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (10:35 – 45) is that the ‘Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as ransom for many. The Christian is not to lord his authority over others, those who want to be great (or successful) must be the servant of others. Here Jesus turns our understanding upside down. Service is the key to success. Not power. This is what makes a great boss, this is what makes a great leader – the capacity, the ability, the drive to serve others: but when the motivation becomes selfish, self-aggrandising and conceited, it is no longer service.

The letter to Hebrews (4:14 – 16) equally reminds us that when service in performed in the name of the Son of God, that we should ‘be confident … in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help.’ Great leaders know they are the recipients of great mercy and grace, for they are called to do great things. And you and I are no less worthy recipients, for we have our own parts of God’s kingdom to build.

So Obama? Why not? Much is expected, much will be asked, and divine and human assistance will be fundamental to his success as a peacethinker and as a peacemaker.