Word to the Wise
Sunday, October 7, 2007 - Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
[Habbakuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14; Luke 17:5-10]When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'
Scripture scholars say that the word "unprofitable" is a bit misleading here. The sense is that the servant is not "entitled" to anything simply for doing what he was told to do. That is his job! This may run rather counter to our American notions of "entitlement." We expect at least to be thanked for doing our duty! Some expect to be praised for it. That "Good job!" is part of the reward for a job well done. Perhaps good leadership in our current cultural circumstances requires that a leader encourage and praise those who follow, but is it because of their feeling that they are "entitled" to praise and reward? This attitude can permeate the life of faith if we're not careful. Salvation is a matter of a personal relationship with Christ who invites everyone to that relationship. However, it is not something that is a reward for living the way a believer ought to live. We may all be familiar with the person who tries to "buy" friendship by doing all sorts of things for someone who didn't ask for it and then feel entitled to friendship because of all those "good deeds." The Christian life should be the result of our relationship with Jesus Christ and not something done to get his attention! As the Letter to Timothy states today, "Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God." St. Paul's "thanks" were to be thrown into prison! God does not deny anyone that strength as long as we are willing to live in accord with it. There is no "entitlement" involved. AMEN
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