Tuesday of the Thirty-second week in Ordinary Time
Commentary of the day
Saint Silouan : "Unprofitable servants"
Reading
Wisdom 2,23-24.3,1-9.
For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it. But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.
Ps 34(33),2-3.16-17.18-19.
I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my mouth. My soul will glory in the LORD that the poor may hear and be glad. The LORD has eyes for the just and ears for their cry. The LORD'S face is against evildoers to wipe out their memory from the earth. When the just cry out, the LORD hears and rescues them from all distress. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.
Lk 17,7-10.
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.'"
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day
Saint Silouan (1866-1938), Orthodox monk
Writings
"Unprofitable servants"
There are many degrees of humility. One man is obedient and bears the blame in all he does; this is humility. Another repents his sins and thinks of himself as unworthy before God. This, too, is humility. But the humility of the one who has come to know the Lord through the Holy Spirit is quite other: his knowledge and attraction are different. When the soul sees in the Holy Spirit how gentle and humble the Lord is, it humbles itself to the depths. This kind of humility is altogether special and no one can describe it. If people only knew through the Holy Spirit what sort of Lord we have, they would change completely: the rich would despise their riches; the learned their learning; governments their power and prestige. All would live in a profound peace and with love, and a great joy would reign on earth.
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