6th Week after Holy Cross

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians.
If anyone is detected in a transgression,
you who have received the Spirit
should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.
Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.
Bear one another’s burdens,
and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
For if those who are nothing think they are something,
they deceive themselves.
All must test their own work;
then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work,
will become a cause for pride.
For all must carry their own loads.
Those who are taught the word
must share in all good things with their teacher.
Do not be deceived;
God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
If you sow to your own flesh,
you will reap corruption from the flesh;
but if you sow to the Spirit,
you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right,
for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.
So then, whenever we have an opportunity,
let us work for the good of all,
and especially for those of the family of faith.
Praise be to God always!

Matthew 25:14-30 The Parable of the Talents

The Lord Jesus Said,
“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.’”
This is the Truth. Peace be with you.

I love the idea of bearing one another’s burdens. When we help each other we succeed, prosper, and overcome. We can address each others’ problems by utilizing our talents. What are our talents? Are talents are metaphorically not only the money that we are given, but also our talents and our time. We can help each other with their financial problems, but also their emotional and spiritual problems. Christians can and should allow God to transform their families and communities by bearing each others’ burdens.

Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Light from Light, and true God from true God,
according to your will you endured bodily death
and yet remain alive in the Spirit.
Through the blessings of this holy day of your
glorious resurrection from the dead,
turn us from the death of sin,
so that we may glorify and praise you, our light and joy,
and exalt your Father and your Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
Amen.