💖 HOMILY - NOVEMBER 10 💖

First Reading - Titus 2:1-8,11-14 

Gospel - Luke 17:7-10

We all like to be appreciated for what we do. When we work hard, we hope someone will notice our efforts. When we help others, we appreciate hearing a word of thanks. There is nothing wrong with gratitude or encouragement; they help us recognise one another’s goodness. But what happens when we do our best and nobody notices? What happens when we serve faithfully and receive no recognition? Do we continue doing what is right, or do we become discouraged because we feel unappreciated?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents the example of a servant who returns from working in the field. His master does not immediately invite him to sit down and eat; the servant continues to fulfil his responsibilities. Jesus then says that, when we have done everything commanded of us, we should say, “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.”

At first, these words may sound harsh. Does God not value our efforts? Does he not appreciate our service? Of course he does. Jesus is not teaching us that human beings have no dignity or that our service is meaningless. Rather, he challenges the attitude that treats our service to God as a transaction—as though we could place God in our debt by doing what he asks.

We do not pray, serve, forgive, or love simply to earn rewards or to make God owe us something. We do these things because we belong to him and because his love has already reached us. Our service is not an attempt to purchase God’s favour; it is our grateful response to his grace.

The first reading from the Letter to Titus helps us understand this more deeply. Saint Paul instructs different members of the Christian community to live with self-control, dignity, sound faith, love, and perseverance. He wants their lives to reflect the teaching of the Gospel. Faith is not merely something we profess with our lips; it must become visible in the way we speak, work, relate to others, and fulfil our responsibilities.

Paul then gives the foundation for this way of life: “The grace of God has appeared, saving all.” This grace trains us to reject godlessness and worldly desires and to live uprightly, justly, and devoutly. In other words, we do not serve God merely through our own determination. His grace teaches us, strengthens us, and gradually transforms us into the people he calls us to be.

Paul also reminds us that Christ “gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people as his own, eager to do what is good.” This is the heart of Christian service. Christ first gave himself for us; therefore, we are called to give ourselves in love to God and to others. We do not serve in order to become loved by Christ. We serve because Christ has loved us first.

This message is especially important in our daily lives. Parents care for their children, often making sacrifices that no one sees. People look after elderly relatives, support those who are sick, and help neighbours in need without expecting anything in return. Teachers, priests, religious, and many others carry out responsibilities that can sometimes feel unnoticed or unappreciated. The Gospel invites all of us to remain faithful, not because recognition is guaranteed, but because love gives meaning to what we do.

At the same time, humility does not mean allowing ourselves or others to be mistreated. Nor does it mean refusing to appreciate the goodness of those who serve us. A healthy Christian community should be grateful for service and recognise the dignity of every person. But the one who serves must not make applause the condition for remaining faithful.

Dear friends, perhaps today we can ask ourselves: Why do I do what I do? Do I serve God and others out of love, or mainly because I want recognition? Can I continue doing good even when nobody notices? And do I recognise the grace of God that sustains me each day?

May we remember that everything begins with God’s love and grace. May this grace teach us to live with integrity, to serve with humility, and to remain faithful in both small and great responsibilities. And when we have done what we were called to do, may we find our joy not in praise or reward, but in knowing that we have responded faithfully to the love of God.