October 6.      The Rosen family had always made it a point to be self-sufficient and never ask for anything from anyone. Was it pride on their part?  The Da Silva family also had a family tradition never to lend anything to others.  “You don’t know whether you’re going to get it back, so it’s better not to lend.”  That was their attitude.  When the two families met at a discussion evening it was interesting to hear them explain their points of view.  At the end they both felt quite challenged to reconsider.  

Scripture: Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey and I have nothing to set before him.” Luke 11:5-13.   Pope Francis: The temptation to focus exclusively on justice made us forget that this is only the first, albeit necessary and indispensable step.  But the church needs to go beyond and strive for a higher and more important goal.  FM10.