21 October.   Servants have always been a topic for general discussion. “It seems that master-servant relationships have been an issue everywhere and always.  However it does change as has happened in South African families in the last few generations as everyone can see.  It was the norm for white families or other more affluent families to have one or even two domestic servants.  Poorer families had to make do, with grandparents, aunts and older siblings playing a role in caring for younger children.  Jesus spoke about good or lazy servants, but also good and hard masters, some of whom punished their servants or slaves and rewarded them if he was particularly pleased.”  “In today’s world I think there is an interesting problem. Do servants still want to be servants or does everyone want to be a master, or his own boss?  Is being a servant or domestic work looked down upon and not valued as still a good worthwhile occupation?”  

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds ready when he comes. He will put on his apron and have them sit at table and he will come and serve them. Luke 12:35-38.  Pope Francis: It is clear from the first pages of the Bible that work is an essential part of human dignity. In Gene 2:15 man is presented as a labourer who works the earth, harnesses the forces of nature and produces “ the bread of anxious toil” (Ps 127:2) in addition to cultivating his own gifts and talents. AL 23.  Men and women have the capacity to improve their lot, to further their moral growth and to develop their spiritual endowments.   Work should be the setting for this rich personal growth with various aspects, creativity, planning for the future, developing our talents, living out our values, relating to others, giving glory to God.  LS 127 JUBILEE. We must not close our eyes to the dramatic situations that we now encounter all around us, not only in certain parts of the world. Each day we meet people who are poor or impoverished; they may even be our next-door neighbours. Often they are homeless or lack sufficient food for the day. They suffer from exclusion and indifference on the part of many. It is scandalous that in a world possessed of immense resources, destined largely to producing weapons, the poor continue to be “the majority of the planet’s population, billions of People SNC 15.  Act and Pray for the needs of families and our calling to become true missionary disciples.