Word to the Wise
Tuesday, November 14, 2006 - 32nd Tuesday in Ordinary Time
[Titus 2:2-8, 11-14 and Luke 17:7-10]When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'
A friend once said to me, "RB, all your parishioners expect of you is recognition and short sermons!" I have had many occasions to remember that bit of sage advice. The statement by Jesus to disciples about not expecting recognition for doing their duty is not something that many folks would subscribe to in practice, even if they agree to it in principle. The plain fact is that folks DO expect to be thanked for doing their duty, whether or not it is "commanded." As a pastor, I worried at the end of big ceremonies about the "Thank you" list because I dreaded the consequences of leaving out someone! This applies to preachers as well. There's a story about a professor of preaching at a seminary who warned his students in the following way: "As to praise of your preaching after the service, let it be like water off a duck's back. But the duck loves it!" In reflecting on our efforts to serve God's people, it's important to ask ourselves just how much praise and thanks we expect. I've known people to be bitter because they felt they had not received the recognition they felt they deserved for doing what they were assigned to do. It wasn't a matter of heroism; just doing the job they were asked and agreed to do. Gratitude is an important virtue but the disciple is warned in the gospel today that expecting gratitude is not part of the job description of discipleship. AMEN
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