32nd Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 12nd November 2019 — Gospel: Lk 17,1-10
Being worthless Slaves
Are you offended with Jesus for his ungrateful remarks and calling the slaves worthless? One might find these words of Jesus quite shocking. Jesus, who is the personification of compassionate Father, doesn’t seem to express his concern for the marginalized slave in this parable. The world of a servant centers not around himself but on the master. This passage does not deal with the master-servant power struggle but focusses on our relationship with God. At the time of Jesus, a servant did not enjoy the rights of a citizen. A servant had to do what pleased his master regardless of any gratitude. It was the duty of the servant to serve the master without any expectation. Jesus is driving the point home that God, who is the Master of us all, can also expect more from us. In this relationship, we need to be aware of our worthlessness in the eyes of God. And we also need to become aware that it is He who makes us able and worthy to serve him.
