Unprofitable Servant

Dearly Beloved,

In Luke 17, Christ tells a parable about the unprofitable servant.  When the servant completes the work in the field, they return to the Master and they are to say: "We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what we are obliged to do."

The parable is not about having false humility.  It's about the perspective that I'm always indebted to God.  When I, a servant of God finish a task, I cannot send God an invoice expecting repayment.  How can I, when everything I am and have comes from God.  I'm eternally indebted to God.  I am unprofitable servant because my sacrifices are small compared to what God has done for me in Christ Jesus.  The Blessed Mother prays: "The Almighty has done great things for me and Holy is His Name."  Her sacrifices, although much, are little compared to what the Almighty has done and is accomplishing.  

When I regard myself as a profitable servant, it's because I look to works and accomplishments.  I say to myself: Wow, look at what I have done for God and for others."  But I'm unprofitable because I don't look at what I have done for God but what God had done for me.  When I understand what God has done for me in Christ, I want to serve God with an attitude of gratitude and appreciation.  My sacrifices are only a small repayment to God.  Because of what God has done for me in Christ, how can I say that I have finished paying off my debts to God.  When in reality, it is only making a small dent in my debt to the Almighty.  I am profitable when I think about what I have done.  I'm profitable when I compare my works to others especially when I make more sacrifices than others.  But I'm an unprofitable servant when I look to Jesus, and compare myself to him.  The single drop of his precious blood from the Holy Cross is more than enough for me to be eternally grateful.  God loves you!