First Reading

First reading

Reading from the Book of Proverbs

Proverbs 31, 10-13. 19-20. 30-31

Blessed the man who finds a capable wife:
Her worth is far beyond pearls.

Her husband trusts in her
and, with her help, he will prosper;
all the days of his life
she brings him good and not harm.

She acquires wool and flax
and works them with her skilled hands.

She knows how to handle the distaff and with her fingers moves the spindle;
she opens her hands to the poor and extends them to the needy.

Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain;
the woman who fears the Lord deserves praise.

She is worthy to enjoy the fruit of her labors
and to be praised by all.

Second reading

Reading from the first letter of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 5, 1-6

Brothers and sisters: As for the time and circumstances of the Lord’s coming, you do not need us to write anything, since you know perfectly well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people are saying: «Peace and security!», suddenly disaster will come upon them, just as suddenly as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

But you, brothers and sisters, that day will not take you by surprise, like a thief, because you do not live in darkness, but are children of the light and of the day, not of the night and darkness.

Therefore, let us not live asleep, like the wicked; rather, let us stay awake and live soberly.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 25, 14-30

At that time, Jesus told his disciples this parable: «The Kingdom of heaven is also like a man who was going on a journey to distant lands; he called his trusted servants and entrusted his goods to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to a third, one, according to each one’s ability, and then he went away.

The one who received five talents went at once to trade with them and gained five more. The one who received two did the same and gained two more. But the one who received one talent dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money there.

After a long time that man returned and called his servants to account.

The one who had received five talents came forward and presented five more, saying: ‘Master, you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have gained with them.’ His master said to him: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will entrust you with great ones. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Then the one who had received two talents came forward and said: ‘Master, you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have gained with them.’ His master said to him: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will entrust you with great ones. Enter into the joy of your master.’

Finally, the one who had received one talent came forward and said: ‘Master, I knew you are a hard man, who reaps what you have not sown and gathers what you have not planted. So I was afraid and went to hide your talent in the ground. Here is what is yours.’

The master replied: ‘You wicked and lazy servant. You knew that I reap what I have not sown and gather what I have not planted. Why then did you not put my money in the bank, so that on my return I would receive it with interest? Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will have an abundance; but from the one who has little, even what he has will be taken away.

And throw this useless man outside, into the darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth there’ «.