A true republic

There are 195 countries in the world today, comprising 193 countries that are member states of the United Nations and two countries that are non-member observer states: the Holy See, and the State of Palestine. Of these 193 sovereign states, as of 2021 there are 44 monarchies and 149 republics of which Trinidad & Tobago is one.

In 1962, our nation cut some of its ties with Mother England, and a mere 14 years later, it severed more strands by becoming a republic. We were truly on our own with regard to governance. We still can’t seem to cut a few other strands. Take the decades-old argument over why we still have the Privy Council as the highest court in the land. So, as forgers and leaders of our own destiny, there are still challenges to overcome.

In this Sunday’s timely Gospel of Mark 9:30–37, Jesus presents a radical notion of leadership that stands in stark contrast to the power structures of His time—and ours.

Jesus and His disciples are travelling through Galilee, and He’s trying to teach them about His impending death and Resurrection. But the disciples, caught up in their own ambitions, miss the point entirely. They’re too busy arguing about who among them is the greatest.

It’s a scene that could easily play out in any modern political arena, like our Parliament for instance, where jockeying for position and influence often overshadows the true purpose of governance.

In response to their argument, Jesus delivers a statement that turns the conventional wisdom about power and leadership on its head: “If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.” This isn’t just a nice platitude; it’s a fundamental reimagining of what leadership should look like.

In many modern republics, we often see a disconnect between those in power and the people they’re meant to serve. Politicians vie for top positions, focusing more on personal gain or party success than on the welfare of their constituents. But Jesus’ words challenge this paradigm.

To drive His point home, in the Gospel passage, Jesus places the child before the disciples. In first-century Palestine, children were considered the least important members of society. By embracing the child, Jesus is making a powerful statement about who we should prioritise in our communities. He’s saying that the measure of a society is not how it treats its most powerful, but how it cares for its most vulnerable.

This message has profound implications for how we should conceive of a republic today.

A true republic, in the light of Jesus’ teaching, should be characterised not by the consolidation of power at the top, but by the elevation and care of those at the bottom. It challenges us to create systems and structures that prioritise the needs of the marginalised, the voiceless, and the vulnerable.

As we grapple with the challenges facing modern republics, like ours—from economic inequality to political polarisation—it’s time we took Jesus’ words to heart.

What would our beloved T&T look like if our leaders truly strived to be “last of all and servant of all”? How might our communities transform if we measured greatness not by who has the most power, but by who does the most good for others?

The Gospel’s challenge to us is clear: true republicanism isn’t about fighting to be first, but about ensuring that no one is left last. It’s about truly creating a society where every person, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is welcomed, valued, and cared for.

Happy Republic Day.