LUKE 17:7-10

[Jesus said:] "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.'"  

Gospelthink: Jesus uses the example of a person who does what he should do. Am I a person who does what I should be doing from day to day?

The true story of Attorney James Donovan and his struggle to obtain the release of U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers is the topic of the movie "Bridge of Spies." It begins with James Donovan's assignment to defend Russian spy Rudolf Abel. The United States government is most interested in making Abel's trial be one that is "just and fair." No one took it seriously--Donovan's family, his law firm, the prosecuting attorney and the judge--because everyone knew he was guilty. Everyone wanted a "show" without serious content. Everyone except James Donovan. Donovan felt that if he was assigned to defend someone in a court of law, then it must be done, correctly and "by the book." Donovan did not win the case, of course, but when Abel was pronounced guilty, Donovan was able to avoid the death penalty for Abel. 

When Jesus was speaking about how a disciple ought to conduct him or herself in life, he spoke of merely doing a duty. If we are called to be true followers of Jesus, following him will be expected. It will not be an act or merely something that one talks about; it will be real. For example, if people say that they are servants, they will be the very best servants they can be. A servant will do what a servant does, and no gratitude or praise is in order.

Attorney Jim Donovan was no doubt a Christian man, and he therefore knew what Jesus said about a servant being called to be exactly that--a servant. He was aware of his duty. He was asked to defend a man that everyone knew was a spy. It was an unenviable task, but since he said "yes" to the request, it was one that he would keep until the end. His duty, Donovan felt, was to defend a man, and therefore, no matter what it took, no matter what others thought, he would do his duty, even pursuing it to the highest court of our country.

We all have "duties" that we are assigned. Sometimes those duties are imposed on us for whatever reason; sometimes we choose to do them at the request of someone else. However they happen, they are duties. Jesus' words about discipleship can easily be applied to the situation even if one is not speaking directly of discipleship. If we say that we will do something, then we must do our very best to do it. Our word must be our guide, and we do not expect any special accolade or award simply because we are doing what we said we would do.

If we have said that we will do something, people should be able to consider it as done.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son gave us guidelines for living even as He taught us how to live as His disciples. Give us the grace to always learn from him in everything that He did and said. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Any assignment in the line of duty should be taken seriously.
 
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
(session: approximately 65 minutes)
1. What scene during this session of the movie is most striking? Why?
2. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds his Apostles that they have no "claim" on God's graciousness. A true disciple of Jesus will be a servant all the time. In what ways should a Christian be a "servant" in today's world?
3. In what ways should the leaders of a Church be "servant leaders"?
4. In what ways should the leaders of a country be "servant leaders"?
5. What is the primary "duty" of a true follower of Jesus in today's world?
6. Analysis: In general, do most people of this world keep their commitments?
7. Analysis: In today's world, in what area should people be more committed than they are?
8. Analysis: Should Donovan have been more concerned about his family? Yes or no and why?
9. Analysis: What is your feeling about "spying" on another country?
10. Scene analysis: The CIA expects Donovan to tell them what Abel is saying. Do you believe that our country would force a lawyer to reveal what a client would say "to help our country"? Yes or no and why?
11. Scene analysis: Jim's son reacts to a possible nuclear explosion.  In general, what is your feeling about our country's reaction to possible nuclear war in the 1950's and 1960's?
12. Scene analysis: What would you have done for Donovan's family after someone fired  gunshots at Donovan's house?
13. Scene analysis: In your opinion, did Donovan do "too much" for Abel? Yes or no and why?

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America