“Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” Christians possess a distinctive characteristic that sets them apart from all other human beings: they have a reason to remain alert, to stay awake. Even when they rest, their hearts do not fall asleep or give in to evil.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
1st week, proper readings omitted.

FIRST READING

From the Book of Proverbs (Prov 31:10-13,19-20,30-31)
Who can find a woman of strength? Her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband’s heart trusts in her, and he will not lack profit. She brings him happiness and not sorrow all the days of her life. She obtains wool and flax and works them willingly with her hands. She reaches out her hand to the distaff, and her fingers hold the spindle. She opens her palms to the poor and extends her hand to the needy. Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting, but the woman who fears God is worthy of praise. Give her the reward for her hands, and let her works praise her at the city gates. – The word of God.

Commentary on the first reading

In some homilies or supposed theological explanations, one often hears it said that the Bible is a manifesto for male chauvinism. It is true that Jewish culture, even in Jesus’ time, relegated women to a secondary position. Yet even simply skimming through the Gospel texts, we encounter a Jesus who approaches women, heals them by touching their hands, engages them in conversation, forms friendships with them, and even forgives sinners. The passage from the Book of Proverbs proposed for this Sunday is one of the highest and most extraordinary tributes that can probably be found in world literature: the woman who honors the Lord is truly worthy of praise. While the men in the Gospel are very fragile in safeguarding and putting to use the coins entrusted to them, the true woman is much more: she is the true precious pearl. “Give her the reward for her hands, and let her works praise her at the city gates.” Gratitude and public praise (that is what “at the city gates” means, where people gathered). Are we capable of doing this?

SECOND READING

From the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 5:1-6)
Concerning the times and the 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 in the night. When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster will come upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day should surprise you like a thief. For all of you are children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to darkness. So let us not sleep as the others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. – The word of God.

Commentary on the second reading

“Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” Christians possess a distinctive characteristic that sets them apart from all other human beings: they have a reason to remain alert, to stay awake. Even when they rest, their hearts do not fall asleep or give in to evil. Only those who have not encountered the true God of Jesus Christ can describe him as a thief who lurks and suddenly enters a house in the middle of the night to steal. The image of labor pains is more fitting: the mother knows she must give birth and waits anxiously, yet with profound anticipation and joy, for the moment of delivery, despite how painful it is (and, especially in those times, uncertain and dangerous). The child, in turn, is about to be born into light and family life in the broadest and most communal sense. Could there be a stronger, more delicate, and more fitting comparison to represent what the passage into eternal life will be, birth into heaven? There too there is pain and effort, the abandonment of securities, but – in the end – a light born from above. The true Lord is not a thief, but a mother.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 25:14-30)
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “It will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, according to each one’s ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who had received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who had received two made another two. But the one who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid 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 other five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents; see, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in small matters; I will set you over great matters. 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, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in small matters; I will set you over great matters. 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 man, harvesting where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter. Out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? Then you should have put my money in the bank, and on my return I would have received it back with interest. Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given and they will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what they have will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’” – The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel of the day

This passage raises many hasty questions: Why an unequal distribution of talents? How can the servants have such different abilities? What fault is theirs if they received not only different numbers of talents, but even amounts corresponding to their business abilities? Continuing: it says that the master “wanted to settle accounts with them.” Does this scene perhaps seem similar to death, to the personal and final judgment through which we will be tested once we arrive in heaven? As if God, even today, were saying the same things a father says to a rebellious teenager: “Have fun, have fun now, because later we’ll settle accounts!” It is not so. The problem lies precisely in an erroneous image of God, as though – behind a veil of generosity – he were actually the most vengeful authoritarian father of all. The real problem with the one who hid the talent entrusted to him (already a very large sum) is the motivation for his behavior: he believes in a false god. It is no longer the true God, the Father of Jesus Christ, but an idol carved by human hands. He would therefore be a harsh god, unjust in the distribution and repayment of talents. It may be difficult and painful, but this idol must be cast away, so that we can finally be free children.