Our first reading today is one that we just recently saw. On All Soul’s Day we read from the book of Wisdom. “But the souls of the just are in the hand of God…They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead.” Another great reminder that our deceased brothers and sisters are not dead at all, but are truly alive! In the Gospel reading from Luke 17, Jesus talks about servants who do what they are obliged to do.
Jesus said, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’ ” We can be such credit hogs. I don’t mean borrowed money, either. We like to get credit for things. “Look at me! Look at me! Look what I’ve done!” Don’t you find that to be quite unbecoming? But you never see that in people of great faith. Look at Blessed Mother Theresa. If anyone had bragging rights, it was her. But you never heard her taking any credit. I can hear her echoing the words of Jesus.
Jesus’ words today remind me of my mom when I was a kid. When I would do my chores to earn my allowance, I would crow about how I did so much around the house. “I did this and this and this and this!” And Mom would reply, “Whadaya want, a medal? That’s what I’m paying you for!” Same concept when it comes to our service for God. We don’t deserve a medal. We’re just doing our jobs.
Father, we thank you for giving us the grace to follow your call. Help us to be “unprofitable servants,” and do that which you ask of us. Amen.
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