27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, C

The heart of a faithful servant

Luke 17:5-10

For this Sunday, as we reflect on the faithful servant as described in the gospel, I would like to use St. Ignatius' "prayer for generosity" to show the qualities of a servant:

"Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will."

First, the faithful servant deeply knows his master.  He asks for generosity because the master is overly generous.  And to serve the master as he deserves implies total respect and honor to him.  The reference point of service is the master, not the self.

Second, the faithful servant knows who he is and what he should do.  He knows his responsibilities.  Giving, fighting, toiling and laboring are far worthier than costs, wounds, resting, and rewards.  Without expecting to be paid, the servant fulfills what is expected of him.

Third, the faithful servant is oriented totally to his master.  He is set to do the master's will and not his own.  The master's will is in itself the reward for all his efforts.  Following the Lord's will will definitely bring order to the world and to people's lives.

These constitute the very heart of the servant as he utters, "We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”  This is also the heart and life of a true disciple by we are called to be.

Comments