Daily Readings - Sat Sep 01 2018
1 Corinthians
26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption.31Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Matthew
14"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.16He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.17So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.18But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money.19Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'21His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'22And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.'23His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'24He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'26But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed?27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.28So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.29For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.30And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound truth that our worth and purpose are not measured by the standards of the world but by the wisdom and grace of God. The first reading from 1 Corinthians challenges us to reflect on our vocation and the gifts we have been given. Paul emphasizes that God chooses the weak and the humble to confound the strong and the wise. This is a call to humility, recognizing that our true strength comes not from our own abilities or status but from our relationship with Christ, who is our wisdom, justice, and redemption.
The Gospel from Matthew reinforces this message through the parable of the talents. The master entrusts his servants with different amounts of talents, not based on their worth but according to their ability. The servants who use their talents wisely and productively are praised and rewarded, while the one who buries his talent out of fear is condemned. This parable invites us to reflect on how we use the gifts and resources God has entrusted to us. It is not about how much we have but about how faithfully we use what we have been given. The servant who failed to act was not punished for his lack of talent but for his failure to take risks and trust in the master’s plan.
These readings call us to live with purpose and courage, trusting that God’s grace is sufficient for us. In our daily lives, we are invited to recognize the gifts we have been given and to use them in service to others and for the glory of God. Let us not be afraid to take risks or to step out in faith, knowing that our ultimate reward is not in earthly success but in hearing the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.” May we strive to live humbly, trust fully, and serve generously, remembering that everything we have is a gift from God.