Homily 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 15 November 2026

 

15 November 2026 Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30

 

My dear friends, today we celebrate the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Today’s readings remind us that true wisdom lies in serving others, staying spiritually awake and being faithful stewards of everything God has entrusted to us.

The final chapter of Proverbs presents a portrait of a woman of exceptional worth.  The Hebrew expression often translated as “a woman of worth” or “a capable wife” is eshet chayil, which can also mean “a woman of valour.” The word chayil conveys strength, capability, courage and excellence. This is not a picture of a passive woman but of someone who actively shapes the well-being of her household and community. The reading begins by asking, “Who can find a woman of worth?” Her value is greater than precious jewels. She is hardworking, resourceful and trustworthy. She uses her abilities to care for her household, but her generosity extends beyond her family: she reaches out to the poor and stretches out her hands to the needy.

Calling her a woman of valour gives this passage a deeper meaning. Valour is not merely physical courage or the ability to overcome great obstacles. It is also the inner strength to persevere in daily responsibilities, make difficult choices, stand for what is right and remain generous even when life is demanding. Her courage is revealed not through dramatic achievements but through the faithful way she lives each day. The author beautifully describes her hands as both working and giving. They produce things of value, yet they also reach out to those who are suffering. Her strength is not used merely for personal advancement but becomes a blessing to others. The passage concludes that charm is deceptive and beauty fades, but a woman who fears the Lord deserves praise. Her deepest strength comes from a life rooted in God. True valour is the strength to live with integrity, the courage to stand for what is right, and the generosity to use our gifts for the good of others.

In the second reading taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, St. Paul compares the coming of the Lord to a thief arriving in the night. A thief does not announce his arrival beforehand. Similarly, the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly. People may feel secure, saying, “There is peace and security,” but Paul warns us not to become careless about our spiritual lives. However, Paul does not want us to live in fear. He reminds us that we are not people of darkness but children of light. As followers of Christ, we are called to live with faith, love and hope. Being prepared for the Lord's coming does not mean constantly worrying about the end of the world. It means living each day in a way that reflects our relationship with God. Paul concludes with a practical instruction: “Let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.” We often postpone important things, telling ourselves that we will pray more tomorrow, forgive someone later or help a person in need when we have more time. We behave as though we have unlimited time to put things right. But spiritual sleep can gradually make us insensitive to God's presence and the needs of others. To remain awake means to examine our lives, recognise our mistakes and respond to God's call today. The best preparation for Christ's coming is not predicting when he will come, but living each day with such faith, love and responsibility that we are ready whenever he does.

A teacher once asked her students, “Who is the most intelligent person in this class?” One student was excellent at mathematics, another could draw beautifully, a third was good at sports, and another was always the first to comfort a friend who was upset. The teacher smiled and said, “You are all intelligent in different ways. The problem begins when you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree!” The problem is that we sometimes spend so much time admiring other people's gifts that we fail to recognise and use our own. This is precisely the challenge Jesus presents in today's Gospel.

Jesus tells us about a master who entrusts his wealth to three servants before leaving on a journey. He gives five talents to one, two to another and one to the third, “each according to his ability.” A talent was a large sum of money. Although Jesus is speaking about money in this parable, we can also apply its message to the abilities, opportunities, resources and responsibilities God has entrusted to us. We all begin life differently. We have different abilities, opportunities and limitations. Some are gifted speakers; others are good listeners. Some lead, while others quietly support those around them. God knows us and understands what he has entrusted to each of us. He does not expect everyone to produce identical results, but he calls everyone to be faithful. The master's journey reminds us of the time between Jesus' departure and his return. Our earthly life is a period of responsibility. We are not the owners of our lives, abilities, wealth or opportunities; we are their stewards. Our education, wealth, influence and abilities are not meant only for our personal benefit; they are also opportunities to serve others and make the world a better place.  

The first two servants put their talents to work and are praised for their faithfulness. The third servant, however, buries his talent because he is afraid. He does not waste it through careless spending; he wastes the opportunity to use it. His fear becomes an excuse for inaction. How often do we do the same? We remain silent when we should speak, refuse to help because we fear making mistakes, or avoid responsibility because someone else might do it better. We may think that doing nothing is the safest option, but when fear prevents us from doing the good we are capable of doing, we fail to fulfil our responsibility. The master gives the same words of praise to the servants who earned five and two additional talents. The important thing is not how much they earned in comparison with each other, but that both were faithful with what they received. Let us ask ourselves: What gifts has God entrusted to me? Am I using them to serve my family, my parish and those in need, or am I burying them in fear, excuses and endless comparisons? God does not ask us to be the most talented people in the world. He asks us to be faithful with what he has placed in our hands. May God bless us all.