The Christian tradition has always recommended that a minister of the gospel live a life of material simplicity. Such a life would guarantee the virtues necessary for proclaiming the gospel in purity. But what does the Church have to say for those engaged in the public sphere of commerce? If a business leader tries to evangelize with their business or in the context of their leadership are they obliged to embrace poverty? What role does poverty play in the life of a non ordained Christian leader today? Let’s continue our study and find out.

When we assume a role of leadership we set ourselves apart from the people that we lead. By definition the leader is at the top or first in line. And leaders in general play positions in society where power is a part of their lives. But what do we do as Christians? Shouldn’t we be the same as every other Christian? And what if our position of leadership brings us a little too close to the world and its way of thinking and acting? What did our Lord do? How did He live?

All of us know that leadership is a demanding thing. Physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually. Anyone who stands in front of the crowd and points the right direction will take a beating. And yet strangely this is exactly what God asks us to do. Maybe it’s for this reason that our Lord himself took times to rest. In this second part of our series on Leadership Lessons From the Summa, St. Thomas Aquinas teaches us the three different ways that Jesus rested.