Articles

Tuesday November 12

MERELY SERVANTS

Introduction

When he sees life cut short by the will of people, the author of the book of Wisdom understands that the reward for fidelity does not always come during life. But human persons are imperishable. God will reward them after death. Death is already overcome by the way the faithful face it and so by their free act of accepting death, the just express their trust in God. They are in the hands of God.
The words of Jesus in the Gospel of today seem to be directed more to the Pharisees and scribes, who claimed to be servants of God, than to the apostles. They were self-assured servants; they computed their merits for what they had done for God and asserted their right to his rewards. Perhaps, the apostles too, were not always too modest in their claims as companions of Jesus. All should put their trust in God and leave everything to him. Not what we have done for God counts, but what he does for us in his mercy. We are in his hands.

Opening Prayer

God merciful Father,
you know what is in our hearts.
Whether our intentions are good or selfish,
we leave everything
to your compassionate judgment.
But this we ask of you:
Confirm us in the will
to serve you and our people
in loyalty and love
and for the rest, we are in your hands,
for you are our God and Father
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Reading 1: Wis 2:23–3:9

God formed man to be imperishable;
the image of his own nature he made them.
But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world,
and they who are in his possession experience it.

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
They shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

R. (2a) I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. I will bless the Lord at all times.

Alleluia: Jn 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Lk 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.'"

Intercessions

– Lord, let rewards and honors come to us as surprises, rather than as something we deserve, we pray:
– Lord, for us and all who are baptized, that we may follow Christ your perfect servant, and that with him, we may serve rather than demand to be served, we pray:
– That leaders in the Church and in the world may serve the interests of their people rather than their own, we pray:

Prayer over the Gifts

God our Father,
we have often been useless servants
who have not done what you expected of us.
And yet you invite us to your table
and serve us the best food and drink,
your Son, Jesus Christ.
Make us trustworthy and loyal
like your faithful servant,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion

God our Father,
without any merit on our part,
you have called us to be
your sons and daughters
through your loyal Son and servant, Jesus Christ.
Give us the humble strength
not to consider this gift from you
as a title to privileges and awards
but a trust and a responsibility
to serve you in people
and to make your love known to all.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.

Blessing

We should not boast to God of what we have done for him. Everything we could do was a gift from him. So let us thank God. May he bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Commentary

The belief in personal immortality developed late in Hebrew thought. The Book of Wisdom from the first century BC is its clearest expression. God created humans for “incorruption,...the image of his own eternity.” For those who have lived a just life, there is great blessing in store. In the time of the final visitation, they will shine brightly and even judge nations. The faithful shall abide with God forever.
Still, the Gospel today reminds us that all of this is gift. We can make no claims on God. Even when we carry out whatever is assigned to us, we have only done what we should. At dinner time, it is the responsibility of the hired servant to prepare and serve the meal, not to sit down and eat with the master. When we have accomplished in life whatever has been assigned, we have only done our duty.
This gives us pause. We are gifted with life and immorality, in addition, a redeeming God and a share in his life. This should be the source of our meditation and reflection. We are not only given a call to holiness; we are given the means to obtain it. In none of this can we say that we have been given our due, for none of it is due to us. Unless we see our calling in the light of grati¬tude, we will forever miss the point.

Points to Ponder

Called to be immortal
Responding to duty with gratitude
Sunday Mass: a duty or a privilege?