Wis. 2:23 – 3:9 / Ps.33:2-3,16-19 / Luke 17:7-10

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus speaks to His disciples and followers, regarding the nature of a servant and the relationship that servant has to the master. The master has a very clear supremacy and dominion over the servants, who have to obey everything that the master commands the servant to do.

This was meant to represent the relationship between God and us, because we are truly God’s servants, and the Lord does not have anything that He owes us, because He is our Lord and Master. The Lord also wants us to know that, unlike the traditional master-servant relationship highlighted in His exhortation, the Lord is a loving Master, who truly cares for us all, even though we are undeserving of Him, His love and attention.

Beloved in Christ, Jesus wants us to think of ourselves as servants rather than as people at table. This gospel appears to have been spoken with reference to rewards, which the disciples were expecting perhaps in the kingdom of the Messiah. It may suppose that the disciples were somewhat impatient to have Jesus assume his Kingly power for them to occupy high positions for their devotedness to him. So, in answer to them, Jesus uses the experience of the nature of relationship between a Servant and the Master.

Beloved, Jesus wants us not to look for or expect gratitude for the service that we render. Jesus’ service of others was not dependent on how others related to him. He gave of himself regardless of how well or otherwise that He was received. The truth is that, we all value being appreciated; we like what we do to be acknowledged in some way. However, the gospel reading suggests that our service of the Lord and of each other is not to be dependent on such acknowledgement. So, let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, and not to count the cost, to labour and to ask for no reward. This reward even is not to be expected as a matter of merit, but would be given at the good pleasure of God.