November 16, 2014

Reading

Job  31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31

31:10 then let my wife be the harlot of another, and let other men lean over her. 31:11 For this is a crime and a very great injustice. 31:12 It is a fire devouring all the way to perdition, and it roots out all that springs forth. 31:13 If I have despised being subject to judgment with my servant or my maid, when they had any complaint against me, 31:19 if I have looked down on him who was perishing because he had no clothing and the poor without any covering, 31:20 if his sides have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; 31:30 for I have not been given my throat to sin by asking for a curse on his soul; 31:31 if the men around my tabernacle have not said: “He might give us some of his food, so that we will be filled,”

Second Reading

Thessalonians   5: 1-6

5:1 But concerning dates and times, brothers, you do not need us to write to you. 5:2 For you yourselves thoroughly understand that the day of the Lord shall arrive much like a thief in the night. 5:3 For when they will say, “Peace and security!” then destruction will suddenly overwhelm them, like the labor pains of a woman with child, and they will not escape. 5:4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that you would be overtaken by that day as by a thief. 5:5 For all of you are sons of light and sons of daytime; we are not of nighttime, nor of darkness. 5:6 Therefore, let us not sleep, as the rest do. Instead, we should be vigilant and sober.

Gospel

Matthew 25: 14-30

25:14 For it is like a man setting out on a long journey, who called his servants and delivered to them his goods. 25:15 And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, yet to another he gave one, to each according to his own ability. And promptly, he set out. 25:16 Then he who had received five talents went out, and he made use of these, and he gained another five. 25:17 And similarly, he who had received two gained another two. 25:18 But he who had received one, going out, dug into the earth, and he hid the money of his lord. 25:19 Yet truly, after a long time, the lord of those servants returned and he settled accounts with them. 25:20 And when he who had received five talents approached, he brought another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you delivered five talents to me. Behold, I have increased it by another five.’ 25:21 His lord said to him: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful over a few things, I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the gladness of your lord.’ 25:22 Then he who had received two talents also approached, and he said: ‘Lord, you delivered two talents to me. Behold, I have gained another two.’ 25:23 His lord said to him: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful over a few things, I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the gladness of your lord.’ 25:24 Then he who had received one talent, approaching, said: ‘Lord, I know that you are a hard man. You reap where you have not sown, and gather where you have not scattered. 25:25 And so, being afraid, I went out and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’ 25:26 But his lord said to him in response: ‘You evil and lazy servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered. 25:27 Therefore, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and then, at my arrival, at least I would have received what is mine with interest. 25:28 And so, take the talent away from him and give it the one who has ten talents. 25:29 For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he shall have in abundance. But from him who has not, even what he seems to have, shall be taken away. 25:30 And cast that useless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’