Daily Readings - Sat Aug 31 2024
1 Corinthians
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:29That no flesh should glory in his presence.30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Matthew
14For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.15And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.16Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.17And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.18But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.19After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are reminded of the profound responsibility that comes with the gifts God has entrusted to us. The first reading from 1 Corinthians encourages us to recognize that our abilities and status are not of our own making but are gifts from God. It emphasizes that God often chooses the humble and weak to achieve great things, urging us to glory not in ourselves but in the Lord. This theme of stewardship is beautifully illustrated in the Gospel parable of the talents, where a master distributes talents to his servants based on their abilities. Two servants wisely invest their talents, doubling them, while the third servant, driven by fear, buries his talent, leading to his condemnation.
The context of these readings highlights the importance of faith and responsibility. In 1 Corinthians, Paul is addressing a community divided by pride and worldly wisdom, reminding them that true wisdom comes from God. In Matthew, Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God through the parable, emphasizing faithfulness and the responsible use of one’s gifts. Both readings connect by underscoring that our talents are not for personal glory but for serving God and others. The servants who invested their talents understood their responsibility and acted with faith, while the third servant’s fear led to inaction and loss.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to reflect on how we use the gifts God has given us. Whether it’s our time, skills, or resources, we are called to use them wisely and courageously, trusting in God’s grace. The moral lesson here is one of stewardship and faithfulness. We must not let fear or complacency prevent us from fully engaging with the gifts we’ve been given. Instead, we should embrace our responsibilities with confidence, knowing that our efforts, when aligned with God’s will, can bear abundant fruit. Let us strive to be faithful servants, using our talents to glorify God and serve others, trusting that He will multiply our efforts beyond what we can imagine.