17:2. It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he cast into the sea, than that he should scandalize one of these little ones.
17:3. Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him.
17:4. And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying: I repent: forgive him.
17:5. And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.
17:6. And the Lord said: If you had faith like to a grain of mustard seed, you might say to this mulberry tree: Be thou rooted up and be thou transplanted into the sea. And it would obey you.
17:7. But which of you, having a servant ploughing or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go. Sit down to meat.
17:8. And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper and gird thyself and serve me, whilst I eat and drink; and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink?
17:9. Doth he thank that servant for doing the things which he commanded him?
17:10. I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.
Unprofitable servants... Because our service is of no profit to our master; and he justly claims it as our bounden duty. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us; for he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which, in consequence of his promise, entitles them to an eternal reward.