First Reading (Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31). This is a
poem in praise of the ideal wife. Even though it implies that
a woman’s place is in the home, nevertheless, it is a noble
tribute to womanhood. By today’s standards, the woman
may not be called a talented person. Yet she is held up as a
model of someone who uses her talents to live an
industrious and virtuous life.
Gospel (Matthew 25:14-30). The parable of the talents is
another extract from Matthew’s Eschatological Sermon
(24:1-25:46) ie: about the end times.
Matthew has accepted that the Parousia (the end of the
world) would be delayed. Since the day of the Lord’s coming
is unknown, he stresses the necessity of being watchful. In
the parable of the talents, he spells out what this
watchfulness consists in: it consists in carrying out the Lord’s
instructions to share generously our God-given gifts.
The first two servants are congratulated and
rewarded for their enterprise and fidelity.
Though their responsibility had been
unequal, their reward is the same. What matters
is not an accomplishment, but wholehearted commitment. The third servant receives
blame and condemnation – because he has done nothing.
Instead of blaming himself, the servant blames his master,
calling him ‘a hard man’. In the parable, we are dealing with our response to God’s
gift. Matthew seems to present God as a stern taskmaster.
The parable is meant as a warning to the lazy and inactive
disciple lest he or she loses everything. The warning is an
expression of love and concern.
Second Reading (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6). Paul had assured
the Thessalonians of the certainty of Christ’s coming.
It seems that the community had speculated as to exactly
when that would happen. Paul tells them that he himself
doesn’t know that. All he can tell them is that it will happen
unexpectedly. He impresses on them the need to be always
ready lest they be caught unawares.