I used to say Mass at a Sisters convent. Afterwards the Sisters would come forward and say, “Thank you, Father, for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.” I never knew how to respond to that. Why should I be thanking for doing what I was supposed to do? Now, as pastor, I am called upon to thank people when some liturgy, event, program has gone well. (I always fear that I’m going to forget someone so it causes me no little anxiety.) But, really, we don’t do what we do in order to be thanked or appreciated. We do it because we love others and want to serve out of love. That helps to explain the saying of Jesus: When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” What we do for love does not require thanks.
