Daily Readings - Sat Aug 30 2025
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 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.”