October 6, 2013: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When I pray let me recall that I am God’s servant and try to imitate Jesus, who said, “I am among you as one who serves.”

Servant doing only his duty

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.'” (Luke 17:5-10)

REFLECTION

In his example and teaching Jesus usually emphasizes God’s mercy and generosity toward us. But today’s reading reminds us that God does not owe us anything — any more than a workman owes wages to his employer. The worker is simply expected to do whatever a servant does.

ACTION

Am I a good servant? Do I expect favors and complain when I don’t get what I want from God?
When I pray let me recall that I am God’s servant and try to imitate Jesus, who said, “I am among you as one who serves.”