Daily Readings - Sat Aug 30 2025
Matthew
14"Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.15To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey.16The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.17So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.18But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.19"After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.20The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'21"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'22"The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'23"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'24"Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.25So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'26"His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?27Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.28"'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.29For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.30And throw that worthless servant outside, into the 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.”