First reading
Proverbs 31:10–13, 19–20, 30–31
A perfect wife—who can find her?
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 127(128):1–5
R. Happy are those who fear the Lord.
Second reading
1 Thessalonians 5:1–6
God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus.
Gospel acclamation
John 15:4, 5
Live in me and let me live in you, says the Lord; my branches bear much fruit.
Gospel
Matthew 25:14–30
You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master’s happiness.
Images from the Word
- Five talents
- Good and faithful servant
- My capital
- Eager hands
- Labour pains
Liturgical notes
Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it is distributed under both kinds. For in this form the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is more clearly evident and clear expression is given to the divine will by which the new and eternal Covenant is ratified in the Blood of the Lord, as also the relationship between the Eucharistic banquet and the eschatological banquet in the Father’s Kingdom.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §281
We continue to live in obedience to the words and example of Christ at the Last Supper. We repeat his same ritual pattern of taking, blessing, breaking and sharing. In that sharing, we respond to Christ’s words to ‘take and eat, take and drink’. Fortunately, we are blessed with many who can minister the chalice in a worthy and pastoral way. Our ritual of sharing the chalice enables us to express our covenant with Christ to take up his cross daily and follow him.
‘We have partaken of the gifts of this sacred mystery, humbly imploring, O Lord, that what your Son commanded us to do in memory of him may bring us growth in charity.’
—prayer after Communion