Our first reading today is one that we just recently saw. On All Soul’s Day we read from the book of Wisdom. We’ll spend the rest of this week reading from Wisdom for our first readings. “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.’ ” How does this passage apply to us? What, exactly, are we obliged to do?
That word itself (obliged or obligated) has taken on a very negative connotation these days. We don’t want to be “forced” to do anything. If we look at the teachings of Jesus, perhaps the best place to start would be to follow the Commandments and to love your neighbor as yourself. Once we follow those obligations, everything else pretty much falls into place.
Father, we are unprofitable servants. Give us the grace to do what we are obliged to do, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
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