Gospel (Lk 17:7-10)

“Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Commentary

In today’s Gospel our Lord shows us a clear path to deeper self-knowledge: knowing that we are here to serve. The universal call to holiness means identifying ourselves with Christ, and we should never forget that “the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve” (Mt 20:28).

If we are aware that we are here to serve, when the end of the day comes and we see that we have helped and been available for the needs of others, we can make Jesus’ words our own: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

Being a Christian involves learning from our Lord, striving to follow his example, and we see him teaching us how to serve. After washing the feet of the twelve apostles, he tells them “I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you . . . If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them” (Jn 13:15.17).

The example of Jesus helps us realize that our life should be one of service. The aim of our life is to love, and to love means to serve. We can imitate our Lord and serve in so many specific small points that make life pleasant for the people with whom we live or work. From the careful fulfillment of our professional work to praying for those who need our prayer. If we understand our life in this way we will be happy, with a new happiness that fills our hearts.