November 11.  Anthony shared, “At the West Park cemetery, whenever I visit my parents’ grave, I pass a tombstone of a young air force pilot presumably killed in action. On the stone is written. ‘He did his duty.’  In the great wars of the 20th century millions of young men died “doing their duty,” as did others in the liberation wars of the time. What was their own view about this?  Their country and their families did take pride in their sacrifice.  One can only hope that they themselves too would have felt that pride as they lay wounded and dying.  I wonder if all soldiers still have that sense of “duty” in our day?”  “Or commitment to a cause of their own choosing?”

Reflect, share, act. Scripture:  Jesus said, “When you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘we are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17:7-10.  Pope Francis:. In the name of God, who has created all human beings equal in rights, duties and dignity, and who has called them to live together as brothers and sisters, to fill the earth and make known the values of goodness, love and peace we declare the adoption of a culture of dialogue as the path, mutual cooperation as the code of conduct, reciprocal understanding as the method and standard.  From the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together.  Abu Dhabi. 2019.  FT 285     Jubilee.   We should indeed prepare ourselves consciously and soberly for the moment when our lives will be judged, but we must always do this from the standpoint of hope, the theological virtue that sustains our lives and shields them from groundless fear. The judgement of God, who is love (cf. 1 Jn 4:8.16), will surely be based on love.  SNC 11.  Act and pray for compassionate concern for those suffering loss in their families.