＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊  

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 

The woman of character,

Where is she to be found? She is more precious than any jewel. Her husband has complete confidence in her; she will be of great benefit to him. She brings him only good and not evil, all the days of her life. She has obtained wool and flax, and works them with skillful hands.

 

She puts her hand to the distaff and her fingers hold the spindle. She reaches out her hand to the helpless and gives to the poor.

Charm is deceptive and beauty useless; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. May she enjoy the fruits of her labor and may all praise her for her works. 

 

Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay, and the appointed time for these events. You know, that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people feel secure, and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them, as the birth pangs of a woman in labor, and they will not escape. But you, beloved, are not in darkness; so that day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore, sleep as others do, but remain alert and sober.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Matthew 25:14-30

Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to one servant, two talents to another servant, and one talent to a third, to each, according to his ability; and he went away. He who received five talents went at once to do business with the talents, and gained another five. The one who received two talents did the same, and gained another two. But the one who received one talent dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. 

 

After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who had received five talents came with another five talents, saying, 'Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see, have gained five more.' The master answered, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few things, I will entrust you in charge of many things.

 

Come and share the joy of your master. Then the one who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; with them I have gained two more. The master said, 'Well done, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little things, I will entrust you in charge of many things. Come and share the joy of your master.

 

Finally, the one who had received one talent came and said, 'Master, I know that you are a hard man. You reap what you have not sown, and gather what you have not scattered. I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours!' But his master replied, 'Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered.

 

You should have deposited my money in the bank, and given it back to me with interest on my return. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. As for that useless servant, throw him out into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them."

 Lectio Divina

 Read: The first reading is part of a poem praising a "woman of worth," a woman to be emulated by all. In his first Letter to the Thessalonians, Paul continues to prepare his readers for the second coming of Christ, encouraging them to remain prepared since Christ will come at an unknown day and hour. The Gospel recounts the parable of the talents in which the servants are judged by how well they use the resources their master left in their care.

 

Reflect: Today's readings are very challenging. They set such high standards for us. The poem of the woman of worth describes a woman so skilled and holy that it seems almost impossible to follow her example. And the Gospel raises anxiety about whether we are making good use of the talents our master has given us.

 

But we should not let that anxiety prevent us from acting. That is the mistake that the third servant made. Afraid that he would lose his single talent if he invested it, he instead hid it away. We do the same when we fail to use our talents because we are afraid that we will not be good enough.

 

Pray: Lord, help me to use my talents in your service.

 

Act: Take an honest inventory of how you are using your talents.