Leno's Legacy

Last Friday, May 29, Jay Leno took the microphone for the last time “as the second longest-running host” of NBC’s top-rated “Tonight” show after 17 years since taking over the late night show from Johnny Carson (who led the show for 30 long years!). Back in 1992, Leno got “a chilly reception” when he got the job, beating “Carson favorite David Letterman”. But now Leno proudly pointed out (no pun intended!) that, just as he assumed the mantle with the show in the number one slot, he is passing it on to Conan O’Brien with the same ranking. He even lauded his successor, “You were the perfect choice. You’ve been an absolute gentlemen in private and in the press.” Near the end of his last episode, Leno said his goodbye. “Now comes the hard part,” Leno said as he gestured towards “the children born to show staffers during his tenure — all 68 of them, babies to teenagers, who filled the studio stage.” This was his answer to those who would ask about his “Tonight” feat. “That’s what I’d like my legacy to be…When these kids grow up and they go, ‘Hey, mom and dad, where did you guys meet?’, they’re going to say they met on the stage of ‘The Tonight Show.’” (Source: Yahoo! News)

What’s our legacy going to be? Our Lord Jesus gave His great commission: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, NIV) The command here is the main verb: “make disciples of all nations”. “Go” (or, more accurately, “going”), “baptizing” and “teaching” are participles that show us how we accomplish it. We win people for Christ (that’s “going”), build them up in the faith (that’s “baptizing”) and then equip them (that’s “teaching”) to make disciples (that’s the main thing). No matter how efficient or organized we are as a church, until and unless we obey this command we have no legacy to speak of. We would just end up playing church. We see MGC fulfilling the Master’s Great Commission. That’s why our battle cry is, “One God… One Mission… One MGC.” By God’s will, we want to make a lasting impact not only in Makati, not only in Metro Manila, but even beyond!

Brethren, that’s what I would like our legacy to be.

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