"Mga suloguon man lang kami"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Lucas 17:7-10)

Martes (Nobyembre 12)

“Abi ang isa sa inyo may suloguon nga nagaarado ukon nagabantay sang mga karnero. Kon magpauli sia halin sa uma, nagasiling bala kamo sa iya, ‘Dali, kaon na’?

Wala gid kamo nagasiling sini. Sa baylo, nagasiling kamo sa iya, ‘Ihanda ang akon panihapon, mag-ilis ka kag magsirbe sa akon samtang nagakaon kag nagainom ako. Magkaon kag mag-inom ka ugaling kon tapos na ako.’

Indi bala nga wala gid kamo sing pasalamatan sa suloguon kon ang ginahimo niya amo lamang ang ginasugo sa iya?

Subong man ini sa inyo; sa tapos ninyo mahimo ang tanan nga ginsugo sa inyo, magsiling kamo, ‘Mga suloguon man lang kami. Gintuman lamang namon ang amon katungdanan.’ ” 

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus, fill my heart with love, gratitude and generosity. Make me a faithful and zealous servant for you. May I generously pour out my life in loving service for you and for others, just as you have so generously poured yourself out in love for me."

***

Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

Are you ready to give the Lord your best, regardless of what it might cost you? Perhaps we are like the laborer in Jesus' parable who expected special favor and reward for going the extra mile? How unfair for the master to compel his servant to give more than what was expected! Don't we love to assert our rights: "I will give only what is required and no more!" But who can satisfy the claims of love? Jesus used this parable of the dutiful servant to explain that we can never put God in our debt or make the claim that God owes us something. We must regard ourselves as God's servants, just as Jesus came "not to be served, but to serve" (Matthew 20:28). Service of God and of neighbor is both a voluntary or free act and a sacred duty. One can volunteer for service or be compelled to do service for one's country or one's family when special needs arise. Likewise, God expects us to give him the worship and praise which is his due. And he gladly accepts the free-will offering of our lives to him and to his service. What makes our offering pleasing to God is the love we express in the gift of self-giving. True love is sacrificial, generous, and selfless.

How can we love others selflessly and unconditionally? Scripture tells us that God himself is love (1 John 4:16) – he is the author of life and the source of all true relationships of love and friendship. He created us in love for love and he fills our hearts with the boundless love that gives whatever is good for the sake of another (Romans 5:5). If we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us (1 John 4:12). God honors the faithful servant who loves and serves others generously. He is ever ready to work in and through us for his glory. We must remember, however, that God can never be indebted to us. We have no claim on him. His love compels us to give him our best! And when we have done our best, we have simply done our duty. We can never outmatch God in doing good and showing love. God loves us without measure. Does the love of God compel you to give your best?