Last weekend I shared in my homily that I had a hard time deciding what direction to go in preaching on the scripture of the day because there was so mucn for all of us to reflect upon and take with us to use in our life in the Lord. I am supposing that the most difficult thing to hear was Jesus' parable of the "unprofitable servant" who came in from the field after a hard and long day's work for his master in serving (and I assume preparing) his master's dinner. It says after doing all of that for the master he should not expect any gratitude from him for all the hard work he had done. Jesus concludes the parable by speaking to his apostles (and, now, to us) saying that when we have done all we have been commanded to do by our Master (God), we should say "We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do." (Lk 17:10). Unlike the master of slaves of the past (or, sadly, of the present) our divine "Master" only commands us to do things that do not benefit God, but that truly benefit others and the people we are called to serve. When we choose to love as God loves and all people whom God loves, when we show mercy to others as God shows mercy, even when it is not deserved, then we live as God lives, in eternal peace and harmony. Jesus is not saying that expressions of appreciation that originate from us or given to us by others, and firstly by God, are bad in themselves. I must admit that, at times, I appreciate when someone shows gratitude toward me for something I say or do for them, AND I try to always encourage them to give thanks to God for all the blessing that come to them and I do so as well. When I reflected on the last verse of last Sunday's Gospel (see above), about doing what we are obliged to do, I think of the "obligation" Catholics have to ATTEND and participate actively in mind, heart and voice in the celebration of the Eucharist on Saturday evening or Sunday, and all Holy Days. I wonder if we ever reflect on our motive for faithfully doing what we have been commanded (by the third Commandment and one of the precepts of the Church) to do. Is it to avoid "Mortal Sin" which can threaten our eternal salvattion.Is it something I've always done, and just keep doing? I hope and pray that at some point in the past it became something we do because it is the best way for us to give proper and fitting worship and praise to God WITH my fellow companions on the journey to heaven. It is a foretaste of heaven when everyone gives full and complete worship and praise to the Lord. Just as a packed stadium or arena of cheering fans is good for the players AND pleasurrable for the fans, so our participation fully in Mass on the weekends (and weekdays for some) is pleasing to God and a blessing for all of us, as well as for those we pray for publicly and privately during Mass. Sometimes sportscasters will say something like "Though some would call what I do work", it is truly not work or burdensome for me, so I, and hopefully, you can say what a blessing it is to do the work of praising and thanking God (liturgy) in something we are "obliged" to do!