Fr. Sanctus Mario
Inspiration and Bible Reflections

To serve God. Tuesday 32nd Week Ordinary Time of the Year

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Luke 17:7-10

 

 

To serve God, we do what we ought to do. This involves what we do because of who we are. Do you know that It is our duty and responsibility to serve God.

 

Many times we see our relationship with God as a burden. Sometimes it looks like worshipping God and serving Him is so burdensome that we pay no attention to it. But if truly we are deeply concerned with how to live with God after our earthly sojourn, always know that we have to do what we ought to do to be there. And when we are doing what we ought to do, we should not consider it as a burden.

Hence, to serve God, willingly and willfully is what we ought to do. It is our earthly and moral responsibility to do so.

 

I can remember how we used to take exams in the seminary. Examinations in the seminary is always a tedious moment. During this time, many can go to silent and calmest places to read. Some people lose weight even. Sometimes they forget they have breakfast just to make sure they do a proper revision before attending the examination of the day.

During our final year examinations, one of us changed his own hours of modus operandi. Instead of being awake in the day and sleeping in the night, he sleeps only two to three hours in the day to be awake at night.

 

When we asked him why this type of schedule, He told us “ I am doing what I am supposed to do to pass my exams”. To be the best, he has to change His schedule.

 

The examination is something we must do, then in order to do it, we have to change our daily routines to be part of the exams, take the exams and pass.

 

The reason we are in this world is to serve God. We have to see it and something we must do. It is the reason we are born, it is why we are here and nothing more. It is our duty. We do not have any excuse not to. So, We must find ways to do this no matter how busy we are.

 

The Gospel

In the Gospel, Jesus uses the master-servant relationship in His day to explain our duty towards God. The gospel looks so difficult to interpret but we thank the Holy Spirit who is the teacher of every biblical passage in giving some insights to this.

Jesus asks “who will allow a servant to come and dine with the master as a sign of appreciation for his work, especially after coming back from work. None, but instead , the master will pester him to get the master’s food ready and later he will eat and drink. The master must not be grateful to the servant but the servants will refer to themselves as unprofitable servants who have done nothing if not their duty”.

 

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By implication, when they are doing what they ought to do, they should not expect that the master owes them or begins to heap praises on them. What that servant does is what he ought to do. It is his duty and responsibility.

 

The Key Points

1.Whatever we do to keep our relationship with God is our duty and response to God who loves us so much. To serve God, we have to do what we ought to do. We are not doing them necessarily because someone tells you to do it nor are we to be forced to do anything for God. We do them because it is what we ought to do as children of God.

 

2. This is when you forgive not because you were advised to, but because of who you are as a child of God. It is when we help, save, teach, create peace, love, bless people, pray to God, etc because we know we cannot but do them. It is already in our DNA as children of the God that we ought to do them to truly serve God.

So, when we pray and fast, we do not expect God to start clapping for us. We do them because, it is our duty and responsibility to commune with our God.

 

Just like my friend did what he ought to do to pass His examination if we truly love God, we have to do what we ought to do to truly serve God.

 

3. Secondly, everything God does for us is out of His love and magnanimity. God does not owe anyone because we have been serving Him or because of what we do for him. We do them because this is what we ought to do.

 

4.God’s reward is His to decide. God is not owing you because you are doing fifty days of prayers and fasting or because you help people and thus when you don’t see the reward, you lose hope in God, No. He acts out of His will. Your duty is to pray. It is what we are to do and He decides when and how to respond to us. He may even decide not to answer the way we want.

God answers every prayer. His answer can be Yes, or No, or Wait.

 

4. Thirdly, Jesus expects his followers to serve and work for Him with their whole heart and not like people who are forced. We are not supposed to be forced to do good, to pray, to help, love, forgive, bless, have mercy etc. We have to do them. They are our responsibilities.

 

5. Finally, In this gospel, Jesus did not say, there will not be a reward. There may be but the servants have to go on their business. The reward may be now, tomorrow or delayed but must be at the pleasure of the master. The master decides when to reward you. He can also decide not to reward your efforts now but keep it for you on the last day.

Maybe you prayed for something, but instead of doing it for you immediately, God withholds it and save it as a source of grace to save our instead. He decides which one is better for us.

 

So, We do not pray to force God. We do not perform good works to push Him. Everything He does is by His grace and love. And whatever we are doing is our duty and responsibility. Let us understand this.

 

May God bless you dearest and give us the grace to do what we ought to do as His children. May He also answer your prayers and surround you with His grace. Amen

 

 

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47 Comments
  1. GeraldineMary says

    Amen 🙏

  2. Okonkwo onyinye says

    AMEN

  3. Jared Ogare says

    May we strive to perform the duties and responsibilities you have given O Lord and live the rest to your will, Amen

  4. Margaret Awum says

    Amen 🙏

  5. Agudosi Cordelia chinyere says

    Amen

  6. Uchechukwu Egbo says

    Amen 🙏

  7. Yolanda Malebatsane says

    Amen🙏

  8. Nwatu Nneka P says

    It’s painful and discouraging when GOD says no or delays, but HE is the perfect master planner.
    Thanks and same to you Padre

  9. Eneh Chioma Maureen says

    I pray that God gives me a sincere heart to serve him in truth and in life. Because tribulations of life have made us deviate from our purpose in life rather than loving God with our mind and body. My guidian angel please help me not to deviate from my expectations from God throughout my life time amen.

  10. Chizoba Ekwueme says

    Lord, let my life serve You In Jesus Name, Amen!.

  11. Mariajacinta Ivoke says

    Amen

  12. Blessing Anne says

    Amen

  13. Amadi miracleN says

    Amen 🙏
    Thanks fa.

  14. Chinedu Duru says

    Amen

  15. David Sunday Edore says

    Amen thanks so much for this message Padre.

  16. Rosemary says

    Amen

  17. Beatrice Solomon says

    God help me to do my best to save you
    Amen

  18. Anidiobi Sylvia Ngozi says

    Heavenly Father, I pray for Grace to do what I’m supposed to do as your child.
    🙇‍♀️Amen

  19. Okoye Juliet chidinma says

    Yes father,to serve God is our duty on Earth,we shouldn’t be forced to do that,it’s what we should do willingly.
    Some people,to pray is a burden to them,to serve God is also a burden to them ,but to acquire the wealth of the world is not a burden,they do it willingly.
    May God help us to serve him in truth and in spirit.

  20. Onyinyechi Emeka-Ude says

    Amen.

  21. Sylvia says

    Amen. May God bless you padre for always drawing us close to God

  22. Bibiana Uche Unachukwu and family says

    Amen Amen Amen. Good morning Fr. Do have a great day today

  23. Angela Madu says

    Amen

  24. Ighekpe Agbodesi Winifred says

    Amen

  25. Regina Mobu says

    Amen

  26. Angela Ekere says

    Amen

  27. Ndukwe Amanda says

    Amen Fr

  28. Josephine kanu says

    Amen

  29. Alice Edward says

    Thank you for the words of encouragement.
    mass intentions please
    _for success in my forth coming examination
    – for divine healing and blessings for my siblings
    – for job opportunities

  30. Chioma Frances Egwuogu says

    Amen

  31. Grace Yina says

    Amen

  32. Mbama Christiana says

    Amen and Amen.

  33. Onyekonwu Ngozi says

    Amen! Thank you Jesus for making it clear to me that whatever work I am doing, that I should not deserve to be thanked because I am doing what I suppose to be doing,

  34. Igwe Lilian says

    Amen oooo

  35. Euphemia Onyebuchi says

    I pray for grace to serve God in truth and in spirit Amen.

  36. Ogechi Anugwom says

    Amen

  37. Ozoro Christiana says

    Amen 🙏

  38. Chisom Egwudike says

    Amen

  39. Akwuobi Chinaza Marycynthia says

    Amen

  40. Ani Chinonyelum Emmanuella says

    Amen, thanks Padre

  41. Dorothy Mary Iyinbor says

    Amen thanks Padre God bless you plenty 🙏

  42. Nnametu chioma Michelle says

    Amen and Amen.

  43. Theomaris says

    Amen 🙏

  44. Julie says

    Amen. God please give me the Grace to believe and trust in you always. 🙏

  45. Ugwu Josephine Nnenna. says

    Amen. God bless you Padre.

  46. Doris Emmanuel Ogban says

    Grace 🙏 upon Grace
    O LORD JESUS CHRIST MIGHTY 😭

  47. Amalu Gloria says

    Amen and Amen

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