32nd Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Tit 2:1-8, 11-14
Beloved: You must say what is consistent with sound doctrine, namely, that older men should be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, love, and endurance. Similarly, older women should be reverent in their behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to drink, teaching what is good, so that they may train younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, chaste, good homemakers, under the control of their husbands, so that the word of God may not be discredited. Urge the younger men, similarly, to control themselves, showing yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with integrity in your teaching, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be criticized, so that the opponent will be put to shame without anything bad to say about us. For the grace of God has appeared, saving all and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.
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.’”
SERVICE WITHOUT PRIDE: Gautama Buddha says that developing attachment or aversion to pleasure, things, places, persons etc., is the root cause of all the sufferings. The way to liberation is to live without attachment or aversion. Jesus says that the servants who are depicted in the parable on Duty have the equanimity of mind. It is because of this mental attitude, they are able to say, “We have done what we were obliged to do”. It is easy for the servants who are doing menial jobs to assume such frame of mind. But those who are in managerial service often are addicted to power and dominate over the people. The responsibilities are to be treated as means to serve the people and the planet. Accordingly, one should not feel proud or ashamed of a job. We shall pray for the equanimity of mind and heart.
Prayer: Lord, help me understand my purpose in my daily engagements.
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BE HUMBLE AND BE HUMAN: “The souls of the righteous are in the Hands of God and no torments will ever touch them” (Wis 3:1). God’s people are the preferred lot and God’s favorites. He treats them with exceptional kindness. We stand before God as sinners and do not deserve to be treated this way. A servant even when he has conducted honorably, fulfilled all his tasks and responsibilities, he just does not demand his place of honor. Humans we are, still are in need of His mercy, his generosity, and his immense patience. God’s role and ours can never be reversed. He is the eternal giver, provider, the one forgives and consoles. So I need to be humble in all my actions, and I need to conduct ourselves submitting oneself to His designs. Let me never think I have accomplished something, built my citadel, or offered my share of the brickwork to God’s Kingdom
DAILY GOSPEL 