Homily: November 11, 2025, Tuesday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time (Servants )

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 “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.”

In some translations, it reads “We are useless servants.” Whatever the wording, the message is clear. When we work for the Kingdom of God, we should not seek profit, recognition, or affirmation. Instead, we must serve with humility knowing that we are only doing what God asks of us.

Jesus never promised comfort or reward for discipleship. He spoke instead of persecution, rejection, even suffering. Every saint has gone through moments of humiliation, misunderstanding, or pain, all for the good they tried to do in God’s name. Yet they continued to serve, not for gain, but out of love.

It’s striking that the first title given in the canonization process is “Servant of God.” Even after their deaths, people recognize the quiet, humble service these men and women offered to God. They lived as “unprofitable servants”. 

Mary, when greeted by the angel, said, “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord.” She did not ask for reward or recognition. And Jesus, who is our model, humbled himself completely becoming the Lamb who was offered for our salvation.

Looking through the history of the Church, all those we venerate as saints lived in this spirit: faithful, humble, obedient, serving without seeking return.

Let us ask today for the grace to humble ourselves, to serve without counting the cost, and to have the heart and attitude of true servants of God.

Amen.


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