In the Gospel (Luke 17:5-10) this Sunday (October 2, 2022), Jesus says, "When you have done all you have been commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'" (Lk 17:10)
Now consider Jesus' statement in light of John 13:34-35, where Jesus says, "I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If we have been commanded to love one another as Jesus has loved us, is it possible to do more than what we have been commanded to do? Is it even possible to do all that we are commanded to do?
When it comes to serving our neighbors, consider these challenge questions for this week:
1. How do we balance our needs to take care of ourselves with the commandment to love others (even Jesus had time for himself to eat, sleep, pray . . .)? When are we done?
2. What should we do when we finish tending to our neighbor's needs? Should we seek reward and recognition from others?
3. How should we respond to expectations, or even demands, from secular institutions that we perform community service?
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