Monday of 24th
Week, Year II: reflection
Theme: A piece of advice
for people who have maids
Reading: Lk 7:1-10
The centurion's compassionate
treatment of his sick slave in today's gospel stands in stark contrast to the
typical treatment of maids by many Madams and Ogas nowadays.
Today’s gospel recounted that a centurion whose
slave was gravely ill summoned elders of the Jews and asked them to implore
Jesus to come and lay hands on his slave and heal him. Recall that this was
happening at a time when there was no legal protection for slaves in their
masters’ homes. Slaves back then were treated like common property in their
owners' homes, and their masters had complete control over their lives. However,
this centurion loved his own slave so much that he sent for the greatest healer
to come and save him.
On the contrary, the pages of newspapers and
social media platform nowadays are always filled with stories of the ill-treatment
of maids by their madams and Ogas. We have heard cases of madams pouring hot
water on maids, some use hot irons to inflict pain on maids, and some starve
their maids to death or send them out of the house to roam the streets like mad
people or dogs.
Dear friends, the Centurion in today’s gospel stands
as a model on how to treat maids; he challenges people of our time to treat
their maids – and everyone who works for them – as they would like their own children to be treated,
seeking help for them when they have needs and helping to add value to their
lives.
May your new week be blessed, Amen.
Fr Isaac C. Chima
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