Gospel: Lk 17:5-10
THE Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
“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.’ ”
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Jesus teaches his disciples to be humble always. Even if we do what is expected of us, we should not expect a word of thanks.
We may not be comfortable with this idea. There is no harm in showing our appreciation to good things. In fact, it helps in building the morale of the most insignificant helper in the household.
Jesus wants to teach his hardworking disciples to be accustomed to working and pleasing the Lord. Discipleship is a thankless job. The disciples should rejoice when they are able to accomplish much. They should not be distracted by the desire to be acknowledged or rewarded. They should be grateful for being entrusted with many things and doing them well because they have been gifted with faith, no matter how small, like a mustard seed.
The Gospel warns us against the inordinate desire to be acknowledged always for the little things we have done, as if the event is our show.
We are only small and humble servants in God’s vast Kingdom who contribute our little for the enormous work to be done.
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2018,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
