St. Leo the Great, pope & doctor 

*** 1st Reading ***

Titus 2:1-8, 11-14

Let your words strength­en sound doctrine. 

Tell the older men to be sober, serious, wise, sound in faith, love and perseverance.  The older women in like manner must behave as befits holy women, not given to gossiping or drinking wine, but as good counselors, able to teach younger wo­men to love their husbands and children, to be judicious and chaste, to take care of their house­holds, to be kind and submissive to their husbands, lest our faith be attacked.

 Encourage the young men to be self-con­trolled. Set them an example by your own way of doing. Let your teaching be earnest and sincere, and your preaching be­yond reproach. Then your opponents will feel ashamed and will have nothing to criticize.

 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, teaching us to reject an irre­ligious way of life and worldly greed, and to live in this world as responsible persons, up­right and serving God, while we await our blessed hope—the glorious manifestation of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus. He gave himself for us, to redeem us from every evil and to purify a people he wanted to be his own and dedicated to what is good.

 

Ps 37:3-4, 18 & 23, 27, & 29

The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.

 

**** Gospel ****

Luke 17:7-10

Who among you would say to your servant coming in from the fields after plowing or tending sheep: ‘Come at once and sit down at table’? No, you tell him: ‘Prepare my dinner.

Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink; you can eat and drink afterwards.’ Do you thank this servant for doing what you commanded? So for you. When you have done all that you have been told to do, you must say: ‘We are no more than servants; we have only done our duty.’”

 

Gospel Reflection

It is normal for us people to expect to receive praise or appreciation for a good thing we did for our familles, friends and other people. It inspires us to further improve our work the next time.

It also strengthens our selfworth and it lightens our hearts. But not receiving gratitude or praise is not enough reason for us to stop doing good to others.

Jesus reminds us that there are things we must do even if we do not receive anything in return. Not because it has no value in God’s eyes, but for us to turn our attention to His promises to us.

God knows all our actions, all the good things we do. We also believe in the Lord’s promise of eternal life and the accompanying fullness of happiness in the presence of the Father. May we not be discouraged if we do not see the fruits of our work or the good things we do to God and others.