Jennie M. Xue

Easter and the Age of Heroic Leadership

[Read directly at TheJakartaPost.com.]

by Jennie M. Xue, Singapore

Easter is approaching, a special day for Christians worldwide. It is the day that Jesus Christ was resurrected three days after his crucifixion at the Calvary. Jesus was the ultimate activist, who defended the poor, the sick and the weak. His exemplary leadership has inspired billions of people worldwide for more than 2,000 years.

Today, Christ’s heroic leadership has been the model of Pope Francis’ leadership. 

His face was on the covers of Time and Rolling Stone magazines. He was Time’s 2013 Person of the Year. It seemed that Pope Francis has won people’s hearts, regardless of their religious affiliations. He has bridged Christianity with the world. 

From the start, this new pope has created splashes with inspiring words about homosexuals, atheists and the others disenfranchised individuals. 

He also chose to maintain a modest lifestyle by refusing to be driven around in the papal limousine. Instead he chose a modest sedan as his daily transportation means. He chose to live in a regular guest room instead of in the grand papal apartment. 

He chose not to have anti-bullet shield for his visiting vehicle, instead an open one. He continued to be close to the people. He was joyful when meeting people, sitting on a chair of the same level with others. He isn’t scared of death threats or stray bullets. 

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was voted the new pope by 115 cardinals at the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican. On the night of March 13, 2013, he chose Francis as his papal name. 

On the carpenter and resurrection

by Jennie S. Bev

Two millennia ago, a simple man from Nazareth made his debut in the world of politics and religion by starting a minuscule Jewish sect.

Jesus was a humble man whose values and virtues were remarkable. He was inspiring to all mankind, and Christians believe that he was divine, rising after his death on the day now referred to as Easter Sunday.

Prophetic mindset

by Jennie S. Bev

Easter is associated with the resurrection of the Savior. For two millennia, Jesus Christ has been regarded as the one who sacrificed himself to save humankind with his divine power as granted from God.

However, not many people, even Christians, realize that we all have the qualities Christ had. They are called prophetic qualities, which are reserved for us, human beings, to save ourselves, humankind and the universe. Everyone, including those who consider themselves polytheists, pantheists, agnostics or even atheists, possesses the ability to make a drastic change in the lives of themselves and others by adopting the so-called “prophetic mindset.”