Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 (JB)

A reading from the book of Proverbs

Give her a share in what she has worked for.

A perfect wife – who can find her?

She is far beyond the price of pearls.

Her husband’s heart has confidence in her,

from her he will derive no little profit.

Advantage and not hurt she brings him

all the days of her life.

She is always busy with wool and with flax,

she does her work with eager hands.

She sets her hands to the distaff,

her fingers grasp the spindle.

She holds out her hand to the poor,

she opens her arms to the needy.

Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty;

the woman who is wise is the one to praise.

Give her a share in what her hands have worked for,

and let her works tell her praises at the city gates.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of Proverbs

A capable wife, who can find her?

She is far more precious than jewels.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She girds herself with strength,

and makes her arms strong.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

She opens her hand to the poor,

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Her children rise up and call her happy;

her husband too, and he praises her:

“Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Give her a share in the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the city gates.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 127:1-5 (JB)

R. Happy are those who fear the Lord.

O blessed are those who fear the Lord

and walk in his ways!

By the labour of your hands you shall eat.

You will be happy and prosper. R.

Your wife like a fruitful vine

in the heart of your house;

your children like shoots of the olive,

around your table. R.

Indeed thus shall be blessed

the man who fears the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion

in a happy Jerusalem

all the days of your life. R.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians

The day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night.

You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about ‘times and seasons,’ since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is,’ that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.

But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters,

you do not need to have anything written to you.

For you yourselves know very well

that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

When they say, “There is peace and security,”

then sudden destruction will come upon them,

as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman,

and there will be no escape!

But you, beloved, are not in darkness

for that day to surprise you like a thief.

You are all children of light and children of the day;

we are not of the night or of darkness.

So then let us not fall asleep as others do,

but let us keep awake and be sober.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

John 15:4, 5 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Live in me and let me live in you, says the Lord;

my branches bear much fruit.

Alleluia!

John 15:4, 5 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Live in me and let me live in you, says the Lord;

my branches bear much fruit.

Alleluia!

Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Because you have been faithful over a few things, enter into the joy of the Lord.

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out. Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”‘

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:14-30 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

Because you have been faithful over a few things, enter into the joy of the Lord.

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out. The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir”, he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.” Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”‘

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:14-15, 19-21 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples,

“About the day and hour of the coming of the Son of Man.

no one knows,

neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son,

but only the Father.

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey,

summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;

to one he gave five talents,

to another two, to another one,

to each according to his ability.

Then he went away.

“After a long time the master of those slaves came

and settled accounts with them.

Then the one who had received the five talents came forward,

bringing five more talents, saying,

‘Master, you handed over to me five talents;

see, I have made five more talents.’

His master said to him,

‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave;

you have been trustworthy in a few things,

I will put you in charge of many things;

enter into the joy of your master.'”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:14-30 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples,

“About the day and hour of the coming of the Son of Man,

no one knows,

neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son,

but only the Father.

“For it is as if a man, going on a journey,

summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them;

to one he gave five talents,

to another two, to another one,

to each according to his ability.

Then he went away.

‘The one who had received the five talents

went off at once and traded with them,

and made five more talents.

In the same way,

the one who had the two talents made two more talents.

But the one who had received the one talent

went off and dug a hole in the ground

and hid his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those slaves came

and settled accounts with them.

Then the one who had received the five talents came forward,

bringing five more talents, saying,

‘Master, you handed over to me five talents;

see, I have made five more talents.’

His master said to him,

‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave;

you have been trustworthy in a few things,

I will put you in charge of many things;

enter into the joy of your master.’

“And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying,

‘Master, you handed over to me two talents;

see, I have made two more talents.’

His master said to him,

‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave;

you have been trustworthy in a few things,

I will put you in charge of many things;

enter into the joy of your master.’

“Then the one who had received the one talent

also came forward, saying,

‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man,

reaping where you did not sow,

and gathering where you did not scatter seed;

so I was afraid,

and I went and hid your talent in the ground.

Here you have what is yours.’

“But his master replied,

‘You wicked and lazy slave!

You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow,

and gather where I did not scatter?

Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers,

and on my return

I would have received what was my own with interest.

So take the talent from him,

and give it to the one with the ten talents.

For to all those who have,

more will be given, and they will have an abundance;

but from those who have nothing,

even what they have will be taken away.

As for this worthless slave,

throw him into the outer darkness,

where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.