Gospel 

Luke 17:7-10

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

In this gospel, Jesus continues to reveal to his disciples things that are not in their frame of reference. But Jesus makes it clear that the role that we are given in this world is the role of service. Not being served. The religious people at the time of the disciples were notorious for wanting to be served and not serving.

And so Jesus is making it clear, humility is what he wants from us. He wants us to recognize there is nothing greater than being called to serve, and then to carry through with service. It is the greatest role that we have, and it has great dignity and value.

Closing Prayer

Father, free us from our ego that often looks to make ourselves more than we really are. Give us the humility to simply be a loving, caring, forgiving human being. This is what the Kingdom needs in order to grow, to become, and to come to fulfillment. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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