Gospel Reading for October 05, 2025 – Luke 17: 5-10
POSITIVE AND REDEMPTIVE
The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
“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.'”
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Sometimes, when we contribute something to the Church, we think God owes us something, and expect to receive something in return. There are those of us who donate to the Church, especially regular “big” donors, and expect special treatment, such as being assigned special seats during special occasions or being given special attention by those in charge. There are even some who ask to forego certain requirements such as pre-sacramental preparations, and the like. There are also those of us who, when we encounter big problems in life, ask God why it happened to us when we have been so faithful to him and have done our duty to help those in need.
We forget that God is our master and we are his servants. What we forget most is that even from the womb of our mothers, we have been receiving so much graces from him. GOD DOES NOT OWE US ANYTHING. His gift of life is something no one else in this entire universe can give. And, his gift of life should have been something so beautiful had the first persons he gave it to, appreciated it.
However, despite humankind’s disobedience to him and the consequent punishment that came with it, he did not give up on us and sent his only begotten Son to save us. Jesus brought back beauty to life even in the midst of evil and the suffering brought by our disobedience. By suffering for us, he made suffering for the common good or for love of others, POSITIVE AND REDEMPTIVE.
For the many times we doubted your love, Lord, please forgive us!
