Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost • Year A

Historical Collect

Lord God, rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit, that while keeping the end of all things in mind, we may be stirred up to holiness in this life and come to be with you forever in that life to come. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Thematic Collect

Gracious God, in baptism you pour out upon us gifts of immeasurable, eternal worth — faith, salvation, and the calling to serve as your witnesses in the world. Help us to deepen our baptismal life, walking wet daily, and responding with abandon to your gracious gifts; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

Be silent before the Lord and number your days. The God who made humankind, brings it back to the dust. In this, mortal man discovers wisdom in the eternal God. Knowing the brevity of this troubled life, we ought to turn to him who is our everlasting refuge and dwelling place. We cannot put off this wisdom, living like there will always be tomorrows. For the Lord will unexpectedly return at the most inconvenient time. Like good and faithful servants, we are to stand at the ready, dressed in faith and love and the hope of salvation.

First Reading • Zephaniah 1:7-16

There is a recurring scene in movies that drives me crazy. It annoys me so much that I usually end up talking to the screen. The scene I refer to is when something is about to happen that requires silence, and one of the actors starts talking. A typical example is when it is critical that everyone remain silent so that their location is not announced to an enemy, but someone screams in panic. Such is the scene in our First Reading.

Be silent. Why? God is about to act. Who would chatter through the actions of the Almighty? Evidently, a lot of people. There will be shouts in the market, wailing in some corner of the city, crashing about in the hills, and mighty men will be crying. The prevalent sound on the great day of the Lord will be a bitter noise, accompanied by the blast of trumpets and battle cries. For the Lord is about to act in judgment.

Psalm • Psalm 90:1-12

The complacent (Zeph 1:12) will have nowhere to hide. Their destruction will be complete; their goods and houses will be laid waste. But those who trust in the Lord will have no need of homes, for the Lord has always been their refuge. The one who numbers his days knows a reckoning is coming, and wisely considers the power and wrath of God.

Second Reading • 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

We recently bought a new house. When the previous owners were moving out, they finished moving some odds and ends in their car and van. The man and wife each took loads from the house to their vehicles and came back inside for another load. When they came back outside with the next load, they discovered that the few minutes it takes to walk from the house to the driveway was enough time for thieves to steal golf clubs, stereo, and other pricey items.

You never know when a thief will come. Such will be the day of the Lord. You will not know until it is upon you. So walk in the light of love, be sober in your faith, and alert with the hope of salvation. Your hope in the Lord Jesus Christ is certain, so encourage one another as you see the Day drawing near (Heb 10:25).

Gospel • Matthew 25:14-30

Depending upon whether these were silver or gold talents, the master entrusted the servant with the one talent somewhere between 20 and 600 years worth of income. No wonder he demanded to know why such a huge amount of money had not been invested.

We may not think we have been given as much to invest as others have received. But each of us has been given enough, for we have been given what God assigned (1 Cor 7:17). He is just in his distribution and we must be faithful is what he has imparted to us.