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GOSPEL
Useless servant we are, we have fulfilled our duty
From the Gospel according to Luke: 17:7-10
Jesus said to the Apostles:
“Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’? Would he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished’? Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
“What I demand from you and do not receive”.
All goodness comes from God. Let me reiterate: every good thing comes from God! The moment I convince myself that something positive originates from me, pride creeps in, and I demand a “reward” from the “loved” person…
That’s why humility is indispensable on the path of Christian love, allowing the grace of God and the Holy Spirit to act, not me.
Applied to married life:
Sharon: Have you noticed that we consistently demand acts of love from each other?
Andy: yes, I have. But I’m aware that, in my case, it’s pride. I demand that you do for me what I don’t receive, and I don’t let anything slide to get back at you for not letting anything slide with me. And so we continue… I am certain that until I begin to act with humility toward you and acknowledge that I don’t inherently deserve anything, I won’t make progress. I pray to the Lord to grant me the grace and strength to embrace this.
Sharon: I pray for it too, Andy. Let’s unite in seeking it together every night. What do you think?
Andy: That sounds very good and very healing.
Mother,
How destructive pride can be. How it insidiously infiltrates, conceals itself, and erodes our relationship… Deliver us from this evil, Father. Do not let us succumb to temptation. Amen.”