Called to serve God with humility and gratitude

Titus 2:1-8.11-14; Psalm: 36; Lk 17:7-10

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells of a parable in which he compares the relationship between a master and his servant to that of God and his followers. The servant is expected to serve his master without expecting any special treatment or recognition in return. Similarly, as followers of Christ, we are called to serve God with humility and gratitude for all that He has done for us.

This passage reminds us of the importance of humility and gratitude in our spiritual lives. It is easy to become complacent or entitled to our relationship with God, expecting Him to reward us for our efforts. However, Jesus makes it clear that our service to God should be done out of love and a desire to please Him rather than a desire for recognition or reward.

Today we commemorate the memorial of St. Josaphat, a martyr and bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, who exemplified this attitude of humility and gratitude in his own life. He once said, “Be humble, be simple, bring joy to others, take life day by day, and be good to yourself”. This quote captures the essence of what it means to live a spiritually reflective life, serving God and others with humility and gratitude.

As we reflect on today’s Gospel and the words of St. Josaphat, we are reminded of the importance of seeking to please God in all that we do. Our actions and intentions should be motivated by a desire to serve God and bring joy to others, rather than seeking recognition or reward for ourselves. This is the true essence of spiritual reflection – looking inward and evaluating our motivations and intentions in order to align them with God’s will.

Today’s Gospel challenges us to consider our motives and attitudes in our service to God, reminding us to be humble and grateful for all that He has done for us. The quote of St. Josaphat reminds us to live each day with humility, simplicity, and joy, bringing light and love to those around us. By reflecting on this passage and quote, we can deepen our spiritual life and grow closer to God in love and service.