Titus 2:1-8, 11-14 / Luke 17:7-10
In a company where there are job positions, the job title is important. Generally speaking, the job title describes the position of the person in the company.
In our modern society, there are no slaves in the commercial or domestic sectors. After all we abhor slavery and the idea of being a slave or being treated like a slave is abhorrent to us.
Even the job title of a servant implies that it is low-class job position with a low pay and not much prospects.
The servant that Jesus was talking about in gospel passage was actually a slave (slavery was a fact of life at that time) and probably the only
slave in this household, and he got mostly hard labour - plowing, looking after
livestock, as well as cooking and household chores. His was a pretty
hard existence.
There are only two things that were required of him - duty and obedience. If these are not met and fulfilled, he will be punished by his master. There was no question of his master having to thank the slave for doing what he was supposed to do.
And that is the point of what Jesus is saying in the gospel. Since God is our Master, it is our duty to do what He wants of us and we must pledge our unconditional obedience to him.
So even if we adhere to the manner of life which flows from healthy doctrine as stated in the 1st reading, i.e. reserved, dignified, moderate, sound in faith and love and constancy, sensible and chaste, etc., there is nothing to boast about or to claim credit for.
Because it is God who gave us the grace to be faithful to our duty and the obedience to follow His instructions.
We will be happy just to hear Jesus say to us: Well done good and faithful servant, welcome into My Kingdom.