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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 : Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

When one finds a worthy wife,
her value is far beyond pearls.
Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,
has an unfailing prize.
She brings him good, and not evil,
all the days of her life.
She obtains wool and flax
and works with loving hands.
She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her fingers ply the spindle.
She reaches out her hands to the poor,
and extends her arms to the needy.
Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her a reward for her labors,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

R. (cf. 1a) Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Blessed are you who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways!
For you shall eat the fruit of your handiwork;
blessed shall you be, and favored.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
in the recesses of your home;
Your children like olive plants
around your table.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.
Behold, thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
The LORD bless you from Zion:
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life.
R. Blessed are those who fear the Lord.

Reading 2 : 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6

Concerning times and seasons, brothers and sisters,
you have no need for anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come
like a thief at night.
When people are saying, “Peace and security, “
then sudden disaster comes upon them,
like labor pains upon a pregnant woman,
and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness,
for that day to overtake you like a thief.
For all of you are children of the light
and children of the day.
We are not of the night or of darkness.
Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do,
but let us stay alert and sober.

Alleluia : John 15:4a, 5b

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain in me as I remain in you, says the Lord.
Whoever remains in me bears much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two.
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master’s money.

“After a long time
the master of those servants came back
and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents came forward
bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two talents.
See, I have made two more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said,
‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person,
harvesting where you did not plant
and gathering where you did not scatter;
so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’
His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant!
So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant
and gather where I did not scatter?
Should you not then have put my money in the bank
so that I could have got it back with interest on my return?
Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten.
For to everyone who has,
more will be given and he will grow rich;
but from the one who has not,
even what he has will be taken away.
And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”

Or : Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.
Then he went away.

“After a long time
the master of those servants came back
and settled accounts with them.
The one who had received five talents came forward
bringing the additional five.
He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents.
See, I have made five more.’
His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant.
Since you were faithful in small matters,
I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.'”

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings deliver a powerful message:
God has entrusted each of us with gifts, talents, opportunities, and responsibilities. He does not ask for perfection, but He does expect faithfulness.
• True wisdom produces fruitful action.
• God’s blessings are meant to be shared and multiplied.
• Faith requires courage, not fear.
• Disciples are called to be productive stewards of God’s grace.
The message is clear:
Use what God has given you. Do not bury your gifts. Live as faithful stewards who are ready to meet the Lord.

 Reflection for the Day

“Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
Every one of us has received something from God.
Some have received leadership. Some have received wisdom. Some have received resources. Some have received time. Some have received opportunities to serve. Some have received gifts that seem small in their own eyes.
The Master in today’s Gospel gives different amounts to each servant.
Notice that God does not compare them.
The servant with five talents and the servant with two talents receive the exact same praise:
“Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
God measures faithfulness, not comparison.
The tragedy of the third servant is not that he had less.
The tragedy is that fear prevented him from using what he had.
Fear Buries What Faith Multiplies
The third servant allowed fear to shape his decisions.
• Fear of failure.
• Fear of risk.
• Fear of losing what he had.
So he buried the talent.
Many Christians do the same today.
We bury:
• our gifts,
• our calling,
• our ability to serve,
• our opportunities to evangelise,
• our talents for leadership,
• our desire to help others.
Not because we lack ability.
But because we are afraid.
Jesus reminds us that God’s gifts were never meant to be hidden. They are meant to bear fruit.
Children of the Light
Saint Paul tells us:
“Let us stay alert and sober.”
The Christian life is not passive.
It is active, intentional, and expectant.
Every day is an opportunity to invest the gifts God has given us.
Every act of kindness, every prayer, every sacrifice, every encouragement, every service offered in love becomes a talent multiplied for God’s Kingdom.
The Example of Proverbs 31
The worthy woman described in Proverbs is praised because she uses her gifts faithfully.
She works. She serves. She cares for the poor. She blesses others.
Her life becomes fruitful because it is rooted in reverence for God.
The same invitation is given to us today.
Not everyone receives the same gifts.
But everyone receives enough to glorify God.

Living This Word Today

Today’s readings invite us to:

1. Identify the talents God has entrusted to you
   Recognise the gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities already present in your life.
2. Refuse to let fear control your decisions
   Trust that God will provide the grace you need to serve Him faithfully.
3. Invest in God’s Kingdom
   Use your time, talents, and resources to bless others and build up the Church.
4. Live as a child of the light
   Stay spiritually alert and focused on what truly matters.
   Let today be a day of courage, productivity, and faithful stewardship.

Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father,
thank You for every gift You have entrusted to me.
Forgive me for the times I have allowed fear, insecurity, or comfort to keep me from serving You fully.
Help me use my talents wisely and generously for Your glory.
Teach me to live as a faithful steward, multiplying the blessings You have placed in my hands.
Keep me alert, courageous, and committed to Your Kingdom.
May I one day hear the words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.