[John Ashworth, Juba, South Sudan] Today's Gospel text read out in Catholic churches across the world included Mark 10:42-45. In the South Sudanese conflict, which is widely characterized as a power struggle between leaders (or "rulers" or "great men"), the words of the Gospel seem more apt than ever:
"So Jesus called them to him and said to them, 'You know that among the gentiles those they call their rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. Among you this is not to happen. No; anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be slave to all. For the Son of man himself came not to be served but to serve..."
