Daily Readings - Sat Aug 30 2025
Matthew
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 out16Then he who had received five talents went out, and he made use of these, and he gained another five17And similarly, he who had received two gained another two18But he who had received one, going out, dug into the earth, and he hid the money of his lord19Yet 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.22Then he who had received two talents also approached, and he said: ‘Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained another two.23His 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.24Then he who had received one talent, approaching, said: ‘Lord, I know that you are a hard man. You reap where you have not sown, and gather where you have not scattered25And so, being afraid, I went out and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.26But his lord said to him in response: ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered27Therefore, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and then, at my arrival, at least I would have received what is mine with interest28And so, take the talent away from him and give it the one who has ten talents29For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall have in abundance. But from him who has not, even what he seems to have, shall be taken away30And cast that useless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sermon
In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares the parable of the talents, a story about a master who entrusts his servants with different amounts of wealth before embarking on a journey. The servants who receive five and two talents use them wisely, doubling their value, and are praised by the master for their faithfulness. However, the servant who receives one talent buries it out of fear and fails to increase it, leading to condemnation from the master. This parable is part of Jesus’ teachings about the end times, urging his followers to be prepared and faithful stewards of the gifts and resources they have been given.
The context of this parable is deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition of trust and accountability. The master represents God, who entrusts each person with unique talents and abilities according to their capacity. The servants represent us, and the talents symbolize the gifts, time, and opportunities God has given us to use for His glory and the good of others. The parable emphasizes that faithfulness is not about the quantity of what we have, but about the quality of how we use it. The master’s stern response to the lazy servant serves as a warning against fear, complacency, and the failure to take risks in living out our faith.
This parable invites us to reflect on how we are using the talents and blessings God has entrusted to us. Are we hiding them out of fear or complacency, or are we using them to grow in holiness and serve others? The moral lesson is clear: faithfulness in small things leads to greater responsibilities and eternal rewards. Let us ask ourselves: What are the talents God has given me? Am I using them to bear fruit in my life and in the lives of others? May we strive to be good and faithful servants, using our gifts to build the Kingdom of God, so that one day we may hear the words, “Well done, enter into the joy of your master.”