Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 17, 7-10
Jesus said to his disciples, “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'”
Doing what you must do
1) Serve. Service implies humility and silence. You should not walk around with a loudspeaker while you do things for others. Work quietly and do what you have to do with great humility. Service heals the soul and comforts you. It reminds you that though you may feel overwhelmed, sometimes it is just a storm in a teacup, while others are going through a tsunami in their lives. Service heals, but it does not simply heal the one you serve, it heals you, because it nourishes your heart.
2) With love. Whatever you do, even if it is the simplest and tiniest thing, do it with love, knowing that it is in the smallest things that you are sanctified and that your life is strengthened. It is not through big things that changes are achieved, but in the small things, every day. Whatever you do today, do it with love and patience. Find a way to make your day fruitful and do not let anything make you bitter. Today, you can do a lot of good.
3) Doing. Let’s not be people of many words and few actions. Let us be more focused and concrete, and less wavering. If there is something we all complain about it is the bureaucracy that kills charity. Be simple and practical and whatever you must do, get down to doing it and leave behind the excuses for putting it off. This is a simple and straightforward path for striving daily to serve others, but you can be your greatest enemy. Fight against yourself and you will succeed with simple service.
God bless you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Remember, Heaven is our goal!
