Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 2023
Our culture thinks short term, either seeing a solution to every problem or else denying that the problem exists. There is not final reckoning; there is even a denial of death. We are called to live in the light and to be alert and sober. This means, as Jesus shows, to accept what Jesus has entrusted to us and to serve him with in out of love expecting his well done rather that fearing and going into self-preservation mode and ending up outside. The example of such service is the good wife who can be trusted and is industrious, whether be thought of as individual or collective. The best example, of course, is the unseen work of Mary.
Title
Outline
Our culture lives as if there is no end
Paul knew better
So we have Jesus telling us what this looks like
We are to be the good wife
Readings
FIRST READING
Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31
10 Who can find a woman of worth?
Far beyond jewels is her value.
11 Her husband trusts her judgment;
he does not lack income.
12 She brings him profit, not loss,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks out wool and flax
and weaves with skillful hands.
19 She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her fingers ply the spindle.
20 She reaches out her hands to the poor,
and extends her arms to the needy.
30 Charm is deceptive and beauty fleeting;
the woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Acclaim her for the work of her hands,
and let her deeds praise her at the city gates.
RESPONSE
Psalm 128:1a
1 A song of ascents.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and who walk in his ways.
PSALM
Psalm 128:1–5
1 A song of ascents.
Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
and who walk in his ways.
2 What your hands provide you will enjoy;
you will be blessed and prosper:
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your home,
Your children like young olive plants
around your table.
4 Just so will the man be blessed
who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion;
may you see Jerusalem’s prosperity
all the days of your life,
SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 5:1–6
1 Concerning times and seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. 3 When people are saying, “Peace and security,” then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief. 5 For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. 6 Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
John 15:4a, 5b
4 Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.
GOSPEL
Option A
Matthew 25:14–30
14 “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. 15 To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately 16 the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. 17 Likewise, the one who received two made another two. 18 But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. 20 The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 22 [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.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; 25 so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ 26 His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? 28 Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’
Notes
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023 | ORDINARY TIME
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
YEAR A | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY
First Reading Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31
Response Psalm 128:1a
Psalm Psalm 128:1–5
Second Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:1–6
Gospel Acclamation John 15:4a, 5b
Gospel Matthew 25:14–30 or Matthew 25:14–15, 19–21