Discipleship as Service in Humility!

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Wis 2:23-3:9; Lk 17:7-10

In today’s Gospel, Jesus helps us understand discipleship as service in humility. 

We always think of love as a mutual responsibility. Rightly so! Nevertheless, what we come across in the Old Testament is the unrequited love of God. Oftentimes, God’s love for us is unrequited. 

When Jesus talks of service without expectation, he calls for a kind of ‘unrequited service’ on the part of the servant. 

It is not that Jesus justifies the master’s indifference or arrogance. But it is an example to remind us of our duty as stewards and that it has to be carried on with or without reward or recognition. The stress falls on our duty or obligation.

Also, service without expectation does not amount to self-humiliation. Rather, it arises out of profound humility that recognizes the boundless and infinite goodness of God, only to acknowledge our inadequacy to compensate for it, no matter what we do. 

After all, the spirit of servanthood consists of letting God use us for His purposes.

A faithful servant’s attitude is one of joy that comes from having performed one’s obligation. 

St. Catherine of Siena said, “To the servant of God, every place is the right place, and every time is the right time.”

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar