Sunday, September 20, 2026
Matthew 25:14-30
II Corinthians 6:1-10
Eve of the Nativity of the Theotokos

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. Glory to Jesus Christ. Glory forever. On this Eve of the Nativity of the Mother of God, we hear a Gospel about a hard master who gives his servants different types of talents. But it is not the type or quantity of gifts that matters, but how each servant treats their talents. The wise master gives “to each according to their abilities.” Those given ten and five talents wisely invest what they have and when the master returns from traveling abroad, they return his investment doubly. Each of these acted out of love in community, willing to cooperate with others and risk the master’s gift to obtain a higher reward. The servant given one talent acted not out of love but out of fear; he buried the talent, preventing others from enjoying it and then merely returned it to the master without any interest. The master punished the servant who was unproductive. For though he was given the least amount he was still called to be faithful with what he had.

The Christian life is filled with such paradoxes that no matter what our circumstances are they are called to be faithful and can receive unexpected things. This morning’s epistle lists some of these paradoxes being poor yet making many rich having nothing yet possessing all things so the servant with only one talent did not have to be poor rather he was spiritually poor in the attitude he adopted out of fear he kept his gift hidden not investing out of love for others.

So, we see that love and fear are opposites and drive people to be either productive and faithful or faithless and unfruitful. St. John says in his epistle, “Perfect love drives out fear, for fear has to do with punishment.” As we consider examples of perfect love and a faithful servant investing God’s wealth for a productive return, I place before you the Theotokos, whose birth we celebrate tomorrow. More than any other human, besides Our Lord, the Panagia (All Holy) receives the perennial gift from God and returns that investment exponentially. In addition to love and faithfulness, she exhibits extreme humility. ON all her feasts is read that great hymn of humility found in Philippians 2:

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

⁶ Who, being in very nature^[a] God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
⁷ rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
⁸ And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross!

⁹ Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

This describes the humility of Our Lord, but it also describes the Mother of God who when she heard the news of bearing the Savior from the archangel did not jump immediately onto social media to brag, she did not phone her bestie to discuss baby shower arrangements, and she did not film her reaction to the news, begging for more likes and subscribes. Instead, she quietly pondered these things and treasured them in her heart.

What talent has God given to you today? As we begin a new school year, what incredible resources lie at our fingertips here in this world class city with more than 80 colleges/universities. Whatever talent has been entrusted to you, let us work to be faithful to that gifts and double the master’s investment.