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We live in an "I-scratch-your-back-you-scratch- my-back" world. I do a favour for you, I expect you to do the same for me. This can even apply to people whose job it is to do things for other people. We often forget that many of our citizens are "civil servants". Some of them forget both to be civil and that they are paid to be at the service of the citizenry. Included among civil servants are all government employees, including such people as the police, the fire brigade, those working in government hospitals and so on. But, of course, those who are baptised have all - without a single exception - been called to serve others. So Jesus in today's Gospel calls to task those who, in the social round, only invite those who will invite them back. Instead, Jesus expects His followers to give special attention to those who have nothing to give, who on the contrary are in need - the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. It may not come easy for some people to follow Paul's advice today: "Always consider the other person to be better than yourself". Why? "So that no one thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people's interests instead." When we all do that for each other, everyone is taken care of. It sure beats the rat race. Teach us, Lord, to follow in Your footsteps, for You came to serve and not to be served. Help us to understand that our true greatness is in what we do for others and not in what we expect them to do for us. |
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P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
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That politicians and economists may feel it their duty to attend to the welfare of all people, giving first place to the most poverty-stricken
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This prophetic year 2000 projecting into the 3rd millennium is faced with people suffering from hunger, under-development, lack of work, abandoned old people, the sick without care and those suffering from the scourge of drugs. In front of these facts we are called to review our conduct, choices, commitment in the light of the causes which have determined them. Every Christian who is a member of a state and an economic system must take on himself specific responsibilities to overcome these negative elements which greatly disturb the harmonious development of persons and peoples and are at the root of poverty and of its increase. We cannot place ourselves in a situation of passive waiting for other people's conversion. Our personal conversion is the starting point for hope for the necessary changes of direction. It is our hearts we must change. Conversion is a grace given to those who ask the Saviour for it. We turn to the Lord, with insistent prayer, and ask that we may influence the "politicians and economists to feel it their duty to attend to the welfare of all people and especially the most poverty-stricken". | |
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