Daily Readings - Sun Nov 19 2023

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 integrity. In the first reading from Proverbs, we encounter the portrait of the “strong woman,” a figure who embodies wisdom, hard work, and generosity. She is a wife, mother, and manager of her household, yet her influence extends beyond her family to the community. Her life is marked by prudent decisions, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to helping those in need. This passage is not just a tribute to a virtuous woman but also a metaphor for the kind of life we are all called to live—one of faithfulness, stewardship, and love. The second reading from 1 Thessalonians shifts our focus to the spiritual realm. St. Paul reminds us that we live in a world where the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. He urges us to be vigilant and sober, not caught off guard by complacency or distractions. As “sons and daughters of light,” we are called to live with awareness, prepared to meet the Lord at any moment. This passage challenges us to examine how we are living our lives—are we squandering the time and gifts we have been given, or are we using them to build up the kingdom of God? In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the talents, a story about stewardship and accountability. Each servant is given talents according to their ability, and their master expects them to use these gifts wisely and productively. The servants who invest their talents and produce more are praised and rewarded, while the one who buries his talent out of fear is condemned. This parable reminds us that our lives are not our own; we are stewards of the gifts, resources, and time God has entrusted to us. We are called to use them in a way that bears fruit and glorifies Him. These readings are interconnected in their emphasis on faithfulness and responsibility. The strong woman of Proverbs, the vigilant believers of Thessalonians, and the servants in the Gospel all illustrate what it means to live with purpose and integrity. They remind us that our lives are not without consequence—how we use our time, talents, and resources matters. As we go about our daily lives, let us ask ourselves: Am I being faithful with what God has given me? Am I using my gifts to serve others and build up the kingdom? Let us strive to live with intentionality, generosity, and a deep trust in God’s providence. May we be found faithful when the Lord of the harvest returns.