One enemy of spiritual progress that we need to constantly guard against is that of self-righteousness. Often we deceive ourselves that we deserve God's goodness for doing our job, to perfection. We can recognize ourselves in the flawed nature of our prayer. When we become too self-assured because we are following Jesus - like the disciples who accompanied Jesus of Nazareth on the way to Jerusalem - we need to remind ourselves that faithful service is not a basic requirement of following the Master. God's graciousness is and remains a sheer gift.

A good example of faithful/faithfilled service is the attitude of a servant towards his master. Not that as disciples we are not worth anything in ourselves, or in our work for the Lord in whatever ministry we are involved in. We do not have any claim whatsoever for doing our duty. It does not empower us in any way to earn a special reward from God. Rather it's our helplessness and dependence that attracts God's favour towards us - much like the publican who, not daring to lift his head, kept lamenting: "O God, be merciful to me a sinner." (Lk. 18:13). And the Lord says, "¡K my eyes are drawn to the man of humbled and contrite spirit, who trembles at my word" (Is. 66:2).