Daily Readings - Tue Nov 14 2017
First Reading - Wisdom 2.23 – 3.9
Gospel - Luke 17.7-10
Luke
7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?8And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?9Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of life, death, and our relationship with God. In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear that God created humanity to be immortal, made in His own image and likeness. However, death entered the world through the envy of the devil. Despite this, the souls of the just are in God’s hands, and no torment of death will touch them. The passage reassures us that even though the righteous may suffer in this life, their hope is rooted in immortality. They are tested and purified like gold in a furnace, and in the end, they will shine and reign with God. This reading reminds us that our true home is not this world but the eternal life promised by God.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a servant who works in the field all day and then serves his master without expecting thanks. Jesus asks if the master would be grateful to the servant for doing what was commanded. The answer, of course, is no. The servant has simply done what was expected of him. Jesus then applies this to us: when we have done all that we are commanded to do, we should not seek praise but humbly acknowledge that we are merely doing our duty. This teaching emphasizes the virtue of humility and the importance of serving God and others without seeking recognition or reward.
These readings are connected by the themes of trust in God and humility. The first reading encourages us to trust in God’s plan, even in the face of suffering and death, knowing that our ultimate reward is eternal life. The Gospel, on the other hand, calls us to live out this trust through humble service, recognizing that everything we do is part of our duty as God’s children. In our daily lives, we are called to imitate the just who endure trials with hope and to serve others with humility, remembering that our true worth is not measured by human praise but by our fidelity to God. Let us strive to live each day with faith, hope, and humility, trusting in God’s plan and serving Him and others with gratitude.