Jesus said to the apostles: "Who among you would say to
your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
´Come here at once and take your place at the table´? Would you not rather say
to him, ´Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and
drink; later you may eat and drink´? Do you thank the slave for doing what was
commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do,
say, ´We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have
done!´"
Introductory Prayer: Jesus, I believe in you, my Lord and my Creator! You have given
me everything, and you owe me nothing. You have forgiven me everything when I
owed you more than I could ever pay. I trust in your forgiveness and love,
Lord.
Petition: Jesus, help me
to be grateful to you.
1. Proud Attitudes: How
often are we offended by how others treat us, by a lack of gratitude, respect
or appreciation? However justified the reactions of our sensitivity, what lies
at the root of our complaints is pride. Looking out from my own broken
creaturely condition, I can’t help but see myself for more than I am and expect
more respect from everyone – including God. Yet, before God I am but a poor,
tiny and dependent creature. From him I receive all that I am and need. How can
I demand anything from him? Even worse, how can I complain when I recognize
that I am an ungrateful sinner who has denied the rights and love of my
Creator?
2. The Fundamental Relationship: Our culture has become one of “entitlement.” We view ourselves
as having rights – “just” expectations –, and we expect that much is owed to
us. Thus we see children demanding what they want, spouses expecting their
preferences to be respected, and the belief that government must provide us
with everything. God gets thrown into the fray as well, so that he, too, must
deliver according to our attitude of spoiled children. What we forget is that
we have received everything from God and we owe him everything. Jesus’ image of
the slave and master is not just a metaphor. Although his free and generous
gift of redemption raises us up to the level of children and friends, he owes
us nothing. Our fundamental relationship with God must be that of a grateful
creature with a loving creator. We must start there.
3. Humble Attitudes: Far
from asking us to act as “worthless slaves,” Jesus wants to free us from the
pride that enslaves. The virtues of service, gratitude, honor and obedience may
not be popular today, but they forever reflect the heart of a child of God.
Jesus embraced all these virtues and the attitudes of humility that they
require. My first duty in life is to serve and obey God. My duty of gratitude
can never be exhausted, for he gives me so many gifts – life, faith, family,
etc. –, and he leads me to a love that is self-giving rather than demanding my
rights before God and others.
Conversation with Christ: Dear
Lord Jesus, help me to embrace my condition as creature with humble simplicity.
Open my mind and heart to the many endless expressions of your generous love.
Teach me a gratitude that thinks more of you than of me.
Resolution: I will pray for the grace to show gratitude to God in my daily
activities, striving to make these acts of gratitude occur
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