Looking into the lectionary - What are we teaching our boys?

Matthew 25:14-30 25th Sunday after Pentecost 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time November 15, 2026 When I was a kid, every summer day when my brothers and I were home from school and my mom was at work, we were given chores to do. Invariably, however, we spent the majority of the day lounging in front of the TV or playing outside. My mom’s usual arrival time after work seemed so far away. After whiling away the day doing just what I wanted, I can distinctly remember hearing my mom’s car pull up the driveway. I would spring into action, as if I had been working all day, heart racing because I knew I was probably in trouble. My mom was never fooled. She knew we had wasted the day with our laziness. Our passage today from Matthew’s Gospel, the parable of the talents, feels similar: being charged with something and caught without doing it.   This passage comes in a series of three parables that deal with how one should live their lives in the face of the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus, in the previous chapter, has told us that there will come a time when we will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” (Matt. 24:30), but “about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matt. 24:36). The question then, in light of this promise, is how then should we live? The answer comes in three parables: the parable of the two servants, the parable of the ten bridesmaids and the parable of the talents.    The parable of the talents begins with what would have been a familiar situation for first-century hearers. A master is about to go away and entrusts all he has to his servants. The master gives each of the three slaves talents “according to (the slave’s) ability” (v. 15). When he returns from his trip, he holds a reckoning and the first two slaves do well. They have taken their talents and made more. But the third slave, out of fear, does nothing. He merely preserves the talent he was given and does nothing with it. The two slaves who used their talents well “enter into the joy of their master,” while the slave who has done nothing is thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v. 30). A hard master indeed. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Thank you to this week's writer, Tara Bulger. Thanks also to Robert Lowry who wrote an additional lectionary reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. We've got daily Advent devotionals and a long list of holiday liturgies to make your worship planning easier!

Order of worship — November 15, 2026 by Tara W. Bulger What has formed your theology? by Maggie Alsup What are we teaching our boys?  by Mathew Frease  A prayer for democracy on election day By Teri Ott

No other God: Voting, faith, and state intimidation  As citizens of the United States, we have the responsibility to vote and decide on the shape of our future. When we vote as Christians, we should make these decisions based on our vision of what God calls us to do, not what someone else might threaten us into doing. — Serene Jones  When a Presbyterian elder is taken by ICE After Pedro Garcia Luna was detained and deported to Mexico, his North Carolina congregation was left grieving his absence and navigating fear — while finding the faith to carry on. —  Harriet Riley At This Time: Dialogues in Theological Education What does theological education look like beyond enrollment and budgets? Amy Pagliarella explores the answers in "At This Time." — Amy Pagliarella A community of mutual belonging Drawing on Paul’s letter to Philemon, Dr. Ruth Padilla DeBorst delivers the W. Don McClure Lecture at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary — Mike Ferguson Theology Beer Camp creates radically inclusive space Annual gathering challenges attendees to be welcoming year-round.— Brandon M. Mercer Paul for the World  Nijay Gupta’s "Paul for the World" argues that the apostle’s writings are meant to change lives here and now, not just guide us to the afterlife. Samuel McCan offers a review. Breaking, Disintegrating, Scattering As communion goes sideways, a revelation: God’s kingdom always comes. — Larisa Kwong Abazia Discussion guide for October 2026 issue In each issue of the Outlook, we include a discussion guide to further reflect on the issue. We recommend using this guide in your Bible study, small group or book club. It's our invitation into a faithful conversation.— Donald L. Griggs  Advent planning doesn’t have to mean sorting through dozens of books and resources on your own. In this recorded webinar, Amy Pagliarella offers ideas for churches, small groups and individuals.

Copyright © 2026 Presbyterian Outlook, All rights reserved.