We are unprofitable servants; we have only done what we were obligated to do. On a previous occasion, Peter had posed this question to Jesus:  What about us? We have left everything and followed you, is there something reserved for us?’ (cf. Mark 10:28). Although the content of today’s Gospel passage is neither immediately related to, nor an answer to the question Peter posed, there appears to be some kind of connection between Peter’s question and what we hear in today’s reading. Given as part of a series of instructions that Jesus was giving as he journeyed towards Jerusalem, today’s Gospel passage appears to have been directed to those who were accompanying Jesus. These men and women had ‘invested heavily’ in Jesus and in his cause. Not only were they spending most of their time with Jesus, there were also some among them who were providing for Jesus and his ministry from their own resources (cf. Luke 8:1-3). Naturally, a feeling of entitlement might have started to develop among them. They might have even innocently demonstrated such a feeling in a couple of their ‘idle’ conversations (just as the twelve had found themselves discussing about who among them was the greatest [cf. Mark 9:33-37]). 
It might also be that as they were nearing Jerusalem, Jesus wanted to thank “in advance” his followers for sticking by his side. He wanted to make sure that they understood that the very sacrifice that he was going to make in Jerusalem would also be required of them. And so as he acknowledged with appreciation the contribution they were making to the cause of the kingdom, he also wanted them to understand what they were doing: ‘ You have done what was yours to do. You have exercised your rights and responsibilities as members of this group. It is for this that you signed up when you accepted out of your own volition to join me. Yes, you have given a lot, and for that I am grateful. And I ask you to continue doing as you have done, not because you expect something in return, but because you are obligated to do so.’