Tuesday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time

READINGS

Jesus said to the Apostles: "Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'? Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

REFLECTION

"When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

What does it mean to be a servant? What work are servants required to do?

Serving others requires humility and obedience to fulfill the duties which the Master commands. The servants Jesus is speaking to are His disciples, the apostles. In Jesus' time, the Israelites were the conquered people and were the servants or slaves to the occupiers, the Romans. Therefore, they could identify with the servant in the parable. The servants must know what their tasks are like plowing, tending the flocks, cooking, cleaning, caring for the master's children, and whatever the task be they do them without question. They would not expect any kind of special treatment from their master for completing their tasks, like eating at the master's table with his family.

Jesus modeled what a good servant was when he washed the feet of His disciples and told them they must follow his example. Then He continued to show them how he was the suffering servant when he allowed himself to be arrested, tried, and crucified according to His Father's Will. The disciples did not fully understand what Jesus was teaching until they received the Holy Spirit. They will find out that in serving others there lies the reward. It is a privilege to serve others.

We, too, are disciples of Jesus and we also need to follow Jesus' example. As Jesus' servants we must "Go make disciples of all nations." (Matthew 28: 18) In our PAPA Handbook the PAPA mission -mandate is, "that Jesus sends us to go and make disciples of all nations for him." (PAPA Handbook, p. 7) "Accordingly, we the PAPA, choose again, "praying together" as the ultimate means to make disciples for Jesus." (PAPA H. p9) As part of our purpose for existing we PAPA missionaries pledge to pray for priests and encourage others to join us in praying for priests "by any necessary means." (PAPA H. p10)

Have we done what we are obligated to do as servants of Jesus?

Have we followed through with our pledge to spread the PAPA Prayer for Priests to others?

Have we brought new missionaries in to help serve Jesus by praying for the faithfulness and protection of His Priests?

Have we come face-to-face with our fellow members and participated in our PAPA Retreats, Conferences, and Pilgrimages, or prayed together with our prayer partners for our PAPA Priests and all priests, including bishops and the Holy Father, Pope Francis?

Let's search our hearts and souls and recommit ourselves to PAPA!

Here is our PAPA Prayer for Priests. Let us pray together.

We invite you all to join us in our FACE ZBS (ZOOM Bible Study). Below is the information to join.

https://www.papamio.org/facezbs/thirty-second-sunday-in-ordinary-time

God bless you all!