32nd Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 14th November 2023 — Gospel: Lk 17,7-10
Servant Minded Identity
There is a difference between being a slave and being a servant. The former is imposed upon a person at the expense of one’s free choice. The latter can be a disposition of chosen service. It is a matter of attitude, a matter of heart. Jesus invites us to understand our role, not to lower our self-esteem to the point of quitting ourselves. This seems like a countercultural attitude, but the essence of the message is that we give what we have received. We participate in the work of our Creator and Redeemer. The great work of God is recapitulation: a bringing of all things under the reign of God. To effect this requires living in the truth, a humble standing in our true identity. We are God’s creation, made his children by baptism, and gifted to be able to participate in his life and work in this world. To do this, we seek to serve in a way that gives glory to God and assures that he reigns in the hearts of all.
