“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.’” – Luke 17:10

The things you do for God— serving in Church, helping the needy, sharing the Gospel, caring for your family, and many others.

Is it a “true choice” or a “forced choice”?

Life coach Bruce Conching distinguishes each one.

Forced choices are actions you do because of guilt, fear, or insecurity. They can look good, but eventually they will cost you. They will make you self-righteous, bitter, and resentful. You will feel like an obliged servant.

On the contrary, the challenges, difficulties, and works of service you choose to do with love or gratefulness are “true choices” that result in deeper joy, meaning, and the expansion of God’s love and grace in your life. You experience being God’s Beloved!

So take stock of the things you do for God. Make sure they are true choices, so you experience God’s love to the max! Marc V. Lopez (marcvlopez88@gmail.com)

Reflection question

Are your acts of service from a “servant” mentality? Or a “beloved  child’s” grateful response to a loving Father?

Oops, it’s been all about me! Jesus, I choose to continue to bless  others in gratitude for Your love. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________

St. Martin of Tours, bishop, pray for us.

The writer of today’s reading unfolds the reason for Satan’s attack on Eve—he was jealous of her and Adam’s place in the plan of God. Yet, it also reveals the true glory and dignity that we share as God’s children. We are precious to God and held in the palms of His hands. He ensures that no evil will harm us. Although we may be tried in the furnace of persecution, we will only be made more glorious by this trial.

²³ God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. ²⁴ But by the envy of the Devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it. 3:¹ But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. ² They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction ³ and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. ⁴ For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; ⁵ Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. ⁶ As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. ⁷ In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; ⁸ They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. ⁹ Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

R: I will bless the Lord at all times.

² I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. ³ Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) ¹⁶ The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. ¹⁷ The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth. (R) ¹⁸ When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. ¹⁹ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves. (R)

Gospel | Luke 17:7-10

Sometimes, we think that by going to Mass, keeping the commandments, and praying, we are doing something extraordinary and God should be pleased with us. Jesus reveals here that doing these things is our duty. We do what is expected of us, and it is not extraordinary. Since we owe everything to God, we can give Him back nothing that is not already His. Our little efforts hardly free us from our huge debt of gratitude for all He has done for us.

Gospel Acclamation

Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.

⁷ 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’? ⁸ 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’? ⁹ Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? ¹⁰ 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.’”

Read the Bible in one year! Read PSALMS 36 - 40 today.

In the popular American TV series, Yellowstone, Kevin Costner plays John Dutton, the family patriarch of the most well-landed ranching family in the state of Montana. All the people living in his ranch—some of whom are his own children while others are hired hands—share in the dirty, back-breaking work involved in running the farm. Interestingly, most of the Dutton children feel no entitlement to their father’s land because they know that keeping and caring for it is no easy task. On the other hand, when Dutton begins to show great trust and care for hired workers who have proven their loyalty to him, they become deeply grateful for being treated like family, even if they can never claim the right to be considered as such.

In today’s readings, Jesus instills in His disciples a sense of being “unprofitable servants” before God. He teaches them not to expect God’s gratitude while serving Him. Maybe this was Jesus’ way of dousing any form of entitlement in the disciples’ hearts. Of course, down the road, the disciples will be surprised because their Master will tell them that they are no longer merely His servants, but His friends. Further on, they will realize what this means: that God, before whom they knew themselves to be unprofitable servants, was calling them His most beloved companions.

We can never claim to be worthy of the love of the most powerful Being in the universe. In our sinfulness and frailty, we will never really deserve to be called children of a God whose nature is perfection. And yet, He so graciously loves us and cares for us like we are His very own children. How can we even begin to thank God for such graciousness and make a fitting return of this great love? Fr. Mark Lopez, SJ

Reflection question

How do you return the great love that the Father has for you?

Your love is so great, O God. I am eternally grateful. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________