Tuesday, November 10, 2026 — Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Unprofitable servants
Luke 17:7-10
Readings of the day: First Reading: Titus 2:1-8, 11-14; Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 37:3-4, 18, 23, 27, 29; Gospel Acclamation: John 14:23; Gospel: Luke 17:7-10.
The Gospel
Jesus asks his disciples: when a servant comes in from ploughing or tending sheep, does his master invite him to sit down at table? No, the servant prepares the master’s supper first and serves him. “So should it be with you. When you have done all you have been commanded, say, We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.”
Reflection
The parable does not despise good works; it frees them from pride. The servant who has done everything has still only done his duty, and St. Ambrose draws the line plainly: boast not that you have been a good servant; you have done what you ought to have done. St. Bede adds that perfect faith is found when, having done all that was commanded, we still acknowledge ourselves imperfect. We serve because we are loved, not in order to earn love; the reward is God’s gift, not our wage. St. Leo, whose memorial we keep today, spent twenty-one years as pope serving a Church under siege and never claimed the credit for himself. Do the duty in front of you today, and leave the praise to God.
From the Fathers
“Boast not thyself then that thou hast been a good servant. Thou hast done what thou oughtest to have done.”
— St. Ambrose, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 17:7–10
“Herein then is the perfect faith of men, when having done all things which were commanded them, they acknowledge themselves to be imperfect.”
— St. Bede, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 17:7–10
“Here then is the disease of pride cut away. Why boastest thou thyself? Dost thou know that if thou payest not thy debt, danger is at hand, but if thou payest, thou doest nothing thankworthy?”
— St. Cyril of Alexandria, in the Catena Aurea on Luke 17:7–10
Saint of the day
Saint Leo the Great (c. 400–461), Pope from 440 to 461 and Doctor of the Church. His letter known as the Tome defined the faith in Christ, true God and true man, and was received by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. In 452 he went out unarmed to meet Attila the Hun and turned him back from Rome. He died on 10 November 461.
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Sources: the day’s readings follow the daily lectionary (USCCB, Lectionary 492). The Gospel text is not reproduced here; read it at the link above. Patristic quotes: Catena Aurea on Luke 17:7–10, compiled by St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by John Henry Newman (1841, public domain).