Matthew 25:14-30

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Matthew 25:14-30 or Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21

Jesus told his disciples this parable:

“A man going on a journey

called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.

To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one –

to each according to his ability.

Then he went away.

Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,

and made another five.

Likewise, the one who received two made another two.

But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground

and buried his master’s money.

“After a long time

the master of those servants came back

and settled accounts with them.

The one who had received five talents came forward

bringing the additional five.

He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.

See, I have made five more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.

Since you were faithful in small matters,

I will give you great responsibilities.

Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,

‘Master, you gave me two talents.

See, I have made two more.’

His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.

Since you were faithful in small matters,

I will give you great responsibilities.

Come, share your master’s joy.’

Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,

‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,

harvesting where you did not plant

and gathering where you did not scatter;

so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.

Here it is back.’

His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!

So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant

and gather where I did not scatter?

Should you not then have put my money in the bank

so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?

Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.

For to everyone who has,

more will be given and he will grow rich;

but from the one who has not,

even what he has will be taken away.

And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,

where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you have made us stewards of your gifts and call us to serve with wisdom, diligence, and love. Teach us to recognize the opportunities you place before us, to use what we have received for the good of others, and to remain faithful in the ordinary duties of each day. Keep us watchful and hopeful as we await the coming of your Son.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Parable of the Talents: In the Gospel, Jesus tells the Parable of the Talents. A talent was an enormous sum of money, equivalent to approximately twenty years of a daily laborer's wages. The first servant received five talents, an amount equivalent to a century of wages, while the second received two talents, and the third received one. The master entrusted his possessions to each servant according to his ability. The first two servants immediately put their money to work, doubling what they had received. Neither servant complains about the amount entrusted to him or compares himself with the other. Both faithfully use what they have been given and receive the same commendation: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” The third servant, however, responds differently. Rather than putting his talent to work, he buries it in the ground. His explanation reveals that he is motivated by fear and has a distorted understanding of his master’s character. Instead of trusting the one who entrusted him with so much, he becomes paralyzed by fear of failure. He does not even take the minimal risk of depositing the money with a banker. His failure is not simply that he produces no return; it is that he refuses to accept the responsibility entrusted to him. Through this parable, Jesus teaches us that we are stewards, not owners, of the gifts and opportunities God has given us. We are not all entrusted with the same abilities, resources, or responsibilities, but we are all called to use what we have received faithfully. God does not expect us to accomplish what others can accomplish; he expects us to be faithful with what he has placed in our hands. Our ultimate reward is not simply greater responsibility but participation in the joy of our Master.

2. The Song of the Valiant Woman: The First Reading presents the “Song of the Valiant Woman,” the climactic poem at the conclusion of the Book of Proverbs. On a literal level, the poem describes an ideal wife and mother whose wisdom, diligence, and generosity benefit her entire household and community. She cares for her husband and children, manages her household, works skillfully with her hands, provides for her servants, and extends her generosity to the poor. Her worth is not measured by outward beauty or material possessions but by her fear of the Lord. Her faithful service earns the praise of her family and the recognition of the community. On a symbolic level, the Valiant Woman embodies Wisdom herself. Her many activities demonstrate how wisdom is expressed through the ordinary responsibilities of daily life. She does not seek recognition for herself but uses her gifts to nurture, strengthen, and care for others. Her example reminds us that holiness is often cultivated through seemingly small acts of love and service. As St. Teresa of Calcutta famously observed, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” The Valiant Woman also anticipates the model disciple who faithfully awaits the coming of the Lord. Like the wise virgins in last Sunday’s Gospel, she is prepared, diligent, and attentive to her responsibilities (see Bergsma, The Word of the Lord: Year A, 472–474, 476). Her example illustrates the wisdom of putting God's gifts to work in service of others. Ultimately, she points us toward Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Wisdom and Word of God (Logos), who perfectly fulfills the Father’s will and gives himself in love for the salvation of the world.

3. Preparation for the Day of the Lord: In the Second Reading, we conclude our five-week Sunday reading of Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians. After assuring the Thessalonians that those who have died will not be at a disadvantage when Jesus returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18), Paul turns to how the living should prepare for the Day of the Lord. He warns that this day will come suddenly and unexpectedly, like a thief in the night or the onset of labor pains. Although people may believe they are secure, they cannot predict or control the timing of Christ's return. Paul therefore exhorts Christians to live differently from those who belong to the darkness. We are “children of the light and children of the day,” called to remain vigilant and sober. Rather than placing our confidence in the temporary security of this world, we are to persevere in faith, love, and hope. Paul also offers an important assurance: God has not destined us for wrath but for salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Day of the Lord is therefore both a day of judgment and a day of fulfillment for those who belong to Christ. Our hope in his coming should inspire us to remain faithful in our daily responsibilities, confident that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you entrusted each of us with gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities. Deliver me from envy that compares my portion with another's, and from fear that keeps me from putting your gifts to work. Teach me to serve faithfully in the tasks before me, to care generously for those in need, and to live as a child of the light while I await your return.

Living the Word of God: Do I recognize the gifts, abilities, and opportunities God has entrusted to me, or do I allow comparison, envy, or fear of failure to keep me from putting them to good use? How faithfully do I carry out the ordinary responsibilities of my daily life? Do I use my gifts to serve my family, strengthen my community, and care for those who are poor or in need? Am I living as a child of the light, preparing for the Day of the Lord through faith, love, and hope? What changes would help me become more vigilant and faithful as I await Christ’s return?