Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 / Luke 17:7-10
The difference between conservative and traditional is that conservative is tending to resist change while traditional is of or pertaining to tradition.
As much as the meaning of conservative may seem obvious enough, the meaning of traditional may seem quite broad.
Traditional may mean that something is derived from tradition, or that a person is observant of tradition, or that a person is attached to old customs, or that a person is old-fashioned.
What we heard in the 1st reading is certainly traditional ways of how people should behave. At the same time it may also sound like some kind of old customs that is also old-fashioned.
However traditional or old the customs may seem to be, the principle of living out the Christian life is to conform our behaviour to go with healthy and good doctrine.
What St. Paul said in summary in the 1st reading is noteworthy: God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions. We must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world.
The Word of God and the teachings that flow from it is active and alive, as it was in the past, as it is now, and as it will always be.
When we conform our lives to the Word of God, we are not being traditional or even conservative.
We are merely being servants, and we have done no more than our duty to obey our Master and Lord.