Responsorial Psalm
Blessed are you who fear the Lord
and walk in his ways.
You will eat the fruit of your toil;
you will be blessed and favored.
Your wife, like a vine,
will bear fruits in your home;
your children, like olive shoots
will stand around your table.
Such are the blessings bestowed
upon the man who fears the Lord.
May the Lord bless you from Zion.
May you see Jerusalem prosperous
all the days of your life.
2nd. READING (1Thes 5,1-6)
You do not need anyone to write to you about the delay and the appointed time for
these events. You know that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
When people feel secure and at peace, the disaster will suddenly come upon them as
the birth pangs of a woman in labor, and they will not escape. But you, beloved, are
not in darkness; so that day will not surprise you like a thief. All of you are citizens of
the light and the day; we do not belong to night and darkness. Let us not, therefore,
sleep as others do, but remain alert and sober.
Gospel
Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his
way abroad who summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five
talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to
his ability; and he went away. He who received five talents went at once to do business
with the money and gained another five. The one who received two did the same and
gained another two. But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master's money.
After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The
one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: 'Lord, you
entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.' The master
answered: 'Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few
things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.'
Then the one who had two talents came and said:
'Lord, you entrusted me with two talents; I have two more which I gained with them.'
The master said: 'Well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in little
things, I will entrust you with much more. Come and share the joy of your master.'
Finally, the one who had received a talent came and said: 'Master, I know that you are
an exacting man. You reap what you have not sown and gather what you have not
invested. I was afraid, so I hid your money in the ground. Here, take what is yours.'
But his master replied: 'Wicked and worthless servant, you know that I reap where I
have not sown and gather where I have not invested. Then you should have deposited
my money in the bank, and you would have given it back to me with interest on my
return. Therefore, take the talent from him, and give it to the one who has ten. For to
all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from
those who are unproductive, even what they have will be taken from them. As for that
useless servant, throw him out into the dark where there will be weeping and gnashing
of teeth.'
