Daily Catholic Lectio
Tuesday, 14 November 2023
Tuesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 2:23-3:9. Luke 17:7-10
Unworthy servants
A person who enjoys inner freedom will say, ‘I am an unworthy servant; I did what was expected of me.’
Jesus gives different metaphors to understand what a disciple is: ‘a servant who is awake for the return of his master,’ ‘a faithful and prudent steward,’ ‘a tower-builder,’ and ‘a warring king.’ Today’s gospel reading adds one to this list: ‘useless servant.’
The servant, whom we encounter in the parable, is busy with a lot of chores. The master of the house, who returns home late, does not acknowledge or appreciate the work done by the servant, but he adds another task: preparing dinner for him. The servant, upon receiving the new order, must continue to execute it. After having done all his work, he must say, ‘I am an unworthy servant; I have only done what was my duty.’
What is the meaning of the expression ‘unworthy servant’?
(a) Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, presents Joseph in Patris Corde as a ‘useless father.’ Since Jesus was the son of God, the earthly father had no rule to play. Thus, Joseph became ‘useless.’ Here, being ‘useless’ or ‘unworthy’ means ‘to realise that without me as well, things will move.’
(b) An unworthy servant does not attach himself to the fruits of his labour. The Gita teaches, ‘Do your duty; don’t expect the results.’ Jesus goes further and tells us not to get attached to the fruits of our labour. A person who expects the fruits lets his life be controlled by others. Here, one is a giver, and another is a receiver. There is not only discrimination but also grading. An unworthy servant is free from the fruits of his work.
(c) An unworthy servant moves from one work to another. He knows his own limits in the household, and he will not trespass the boundary. He expects his salary, not appreciation. He does not cling to the praises that come from outside.
How do we apply this metaphor—”unworthy ‘unworthy servant’ – to our own lives?
(a) Often, we expect appreciation or acknowledgement for our works because we define our identity based on them. When we do so, we give control of our lives to someone else. Discipleship means being in total control of one’s life. A sense of responsibility grows when we have this mindset.
(b) Life brings forth a lot of work. Work is always there for us. More work, the more painful life is. But life exists as long as pain exists. Comfort zones destroy our lives.
(c) A servant must be detached not only from the fruits of his labour but also from his work. A work must never become an addiction, escapism, or worry. We must not be workaholics who search for their identity in what they do. An unworthy servant has contentment.
In the first reading, the author of Wisdom of Solomon portrays the liberation that death gives to us: it liberates us from our hard toil, anxiety, and worry. Life after death keeps our hope burning.
A person who enjoys inner freedom will say, ‘I am an unworthy servant; I did what was expected of me.’
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church reflects on work: “Work is our duty; it is through this that we obtain our right to eat. We develop our God-given talents through our work. We must realise our full potential through work. We must learn to detach ourselves from our works” (cf. nn. 2427-2428).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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