Work.

Within the context of service, human work assumes a different meaning. The lay Augustinians explain their perception of work in the following way:

In harmony with Augustine’s thinking, we look upon work as important, as something that is an expression of one’s human nature and person.

We do not view it as a burden or simply a means of sustenance, but as cooperation with the Creator in shaping the world and serving the human community (GS 67).

We strive to be competent in our particular skill or profession, and to deal fairly and kindly with both employers and employees.

We are conscious of our civic duty and we try to live according to the social virtues of honesty, sense of justice, sincerity, integrity, courtesy and so on, because these things pertain to an authentic Christian life (cf. AA 4).

We want every action of our public life to be consistent with our faith.

Our commitment to the human and ecclesial communities ought to be visible in our generous service to both, as we carry out our duties and pursue our efforts "with greater care and cheerfulness than if each one were working for himself..."

Leadership.

The idea of "leadership" is derived from the social sciences. Leadership is one of the elements that shape the life of a society. Jesus gave it a new meaning; to the disciples, he said:

"You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:25-28/ Mk. 10:42-45 ; Lk. 22:25-27."

The passage appears in Matthew and Mark as Jesus’ response to a perceived power struggle in the circle of his close associates. In the Lucan gospel, the passage has been rewritten for disciples in the Hellenic regions and appears in the context of the Last Supper. In both cases, the text settles the dispute as to who should be considered the greatest, i.e., the one who serves. It is noteworthy that in Matthew and Mark, the example of Jesus who gave up his life -- in his healing and teaching ministry and in his death -- as a ransom for many is the basis for this renewed idea of leadership. The Eucharistic setting in Luke somewhat adds a different dimension to the Lord’s example of leadership. During the Last Supper, the Lord distributed bread and wine to his disciples, symbolic of the death he was about to undergo. He was alluding to this when, in response to the dispute among his disciples, he added: "Who is the greater, the one at table or the one who serves? The one at table surely? Yet here am I among you as one who serves!(v. 27)" Thus, Christian leadership is not about the power of the strong, but about love and humility inspired by the example of the Lord who came to serve, not to be served.

Augustine conceived of leadership in his community in much the same way. In his Rule, the leader is described in the following words:

The one in-charge of you must not think himself fortunate in having power to lord it over you (Luke 22:25-26), but in the love with which he shall serve you (Gal. 5:13). Because of your esteem for him he shall preside over you; because of his responsibility to God he shall realize that he is the very least of all the brothers. Let him show himself an example to all in good works (Tit. 2:7); he is to reprimand those who neglect their work, to give courage to those who are disheartened, to support the weak and to be patient with everyone (1 Thess. 5:14). He should himself observe the norms of the community and so lead others to respect them too. And let him strive to be loved by you rather than to be feared, although both love and respect are necessary. He should always remember that he is responsible to God for you (Heb. 13:17).