Today is Tuesday the 25 August in the 21st week of Ordinary Time.

One Hope Project sings ‘Good Work in Me’.

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 25:23-26  

His master said to him, “Well done, good & 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, & gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, & I went & hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked & lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, & gather where I did not scatter?

Our reading today is a short extract from one of Jesus’ parables – the Parable of the Talents.Through the story we are invited to imagine a God who bestows gifts on all of us – so we are gifted.He is a God who gives talents to all of us – and so we are talented.What matters is not what our talents are, but how we use them in the service of the kingdom.

How do you imagine God? Is God an exacting master, demanding that we return to God exactly what we have been given? Is God an adventurer, hoping that we will live in the spirit of trust? Or is God something more...?

As you listen to the reading again, how do you imagine God?

God takes a risk with us every day. Can you return the favour and take a risk with God? What do you want to say as you come before the Lord today?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.