Dear Friends,

“We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.” (Luke 17:10).

These closing words of today’s gospel lesson set an important and essential tone for us who are striving for growth in the spiritual life. One of the feelings, which so often gets in the way of our growth is the feeling of not being appreciated. I’m sure that all of us from time to time can relate to this. How many times has that inner voice said, “No one appreciates me.” or “Why to I even bother?” “How come that guy always gets the credit?” “I deserve the honor more than that one,” etc.

If we are truly serious about the spiritual life, we need to destroy the sin of pride in us, for it robs us of the freedom we have in Christ and prevents us from soaring high in the spirit. We devastate pride by renouncing evil in our lives, by praying earnestly to be freed of pride, by fasting and by evaluating the debilitating role that pride has in our lives. We start by taking a serious look inward and by recognizing areas where pride has usurped humility.

The parable in today’s lesson further instructs us that we are to put ourselves at the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that we serve Him by serving others without waiting for accolades and praises. In other words, when we do acts of charity (monetary or otherwise) we should not do it to receive thanks. In the Sermon on the Mount our blessed Lord tells us not to even let our left hand know what our right hand is doing; for your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

As we progress on our Advent journey let us pray for the strength to overcome pride and vainglory. For glory only belongs to our Lord and God. In all that we think, say and do may we sincerely make manifest in our entire being the sentiment: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

Finally, as we look forward to celebrating the miracle of Bethlehem we do well to reflect on the truth that if the Divine Son of God, the creator of all things, was born in the most humble situation imaginable,, namely a smelly stable; who are we to permits our lives to be governed by the great sin of pride?

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With prayers.
Hayr Simeon
December 14, 2008