Daily Readings - Sun Nov 15 2020

¹⁰Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price¹¹The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils¹²She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life¹³She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands¹⁶She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard¹⁷She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm¹⁸She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night²⁰She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor²⁶She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue²⁸Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her²⁹Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all³⁰Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised³¹Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates

1 Thessalonians

Chapter 5

¹But concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you²For you yourselves thoroughly understand that the day of the Lord shall arrive much like a thief in the night³For when they will say, "Peace and security!" then destruction will suddenly overwhelm them, like the labor pains of a woman with child, and they will not escape⁴But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that you would be overtaken by that day as by a thief⁵For all of you are sons of light and sons of daytime; we are not of nighttime, nor of darkness⁶Therefore, let us not sleep, as the rest do. Instead, we should be vigilant and sober

Matthew

Chapter 25

¹⁴For it is like a man setting out on a long journey, who called his servants and delivered to them his goods¹⁵And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, yet to another he gave one, to each according to his own ability. And promptly, he set out¹⁹Yet truly, after a long time, the lord of those servants returned and he settled accounts with them²⁰And when he who had received five talents approached, he brought another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have increased it by another five.²¹His lord said to him: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful over a few things, I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the gladness of your lord.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on faithfulness, responsibility, and the call to live with purpose and vigilance. In the first reading from Proverbs, we encounter the portrait of the "strong woman," a figure of wisdom, generosity, and integrity. She is a wife, mother, and manager of her household, whose life is marked by hard work, compassion for the poor, and a deep trust in God. Her value lies not in charm or beauty but in her fear of the Lord and her fruitful life. This passage is not just a celebration of a virtuous woman but also a timeless reminder that true greatness is measured by how we use our gifts and talents to serve others and glorify God. The second reading from 1 Thessalonians shifts our focus to the urgency of living as children of light. St. Paul reminds us that the Day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. While the world may seek comfort in false security and complacency, believers are called to stay awake and sober, ready to meet the Lord at any moment. This passage challenges us to live with a sense of purpose and accountability, knowing that our time on this earth is limited and that we must make the most of the opportunities we have. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the talents, where a master entrusts his servants with different amounts of wealth before going on a journey. The servants who invest their talents wisely and produce more are praised and rewarded, while the one who buries his talent out of fear is condemned. This parable is a powerful reminder that we are all stewards of the gifts, resources, and time God has given us. We are called to use them wisely, courageously, and creatively to bear fruit for the kingdom of God. These readings are deeply connected. The strong woman of Proverbs exemplifies the kind of faithfulness and responsibility that Jesus commends in the parable of the talents. She uses her gifts to build up her family and community, just as the servants in the Gospel are expected to use their talents to increase the master’s wealth. At the same time, the passage from 1 Thessalonians reminds us that our faithfulness must be accompanied by vigilance and a readiness to meet the Lord. Together, these readings call us to live with intentionality, gratitude, and a commitment to using our gifts for the greater good. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I using the talents, resources, and time God has entrusted to me? Am I living with a sense of purpose and responsibility, or am I complacent and fearful? Let us strive to be like the strong woman and the faithful servants, who inspire us to live with courage, generosity, and a deep trust in God’s providence. May we use our gifts to build up the kingdom of God and to bring joy and hope to those around us.