Year A – Proper 28
Full-text of the Appointed Lessons (RSV and NRSV), with instructions for lectors
25 Pentecost – November 15 – RCL
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
25 Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 15, 2026
Judges 4:1-7
The book of Judges recounts the cycles of human behavior that result from insincere repentance. The Israelites fall out of faithfulness into oppression, and when they realize their sin, repent and a savior is sent.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Judges:
(Lead in with) RSV: The people of Israel…; NRSV: The Israelites again…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who dwelt in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the people of Israel cried to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years. Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abino-am from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, gather your men at MountTabor, taking ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'”
New Revised Standard Version
The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years. At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, `Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'”
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
25 Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 15, 2026
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Zephaniah prophesies that there will be consequences to the people’s sin. Persistent disobedience will not be disregarded.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Be silent before the Lord God!
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are thickening upon their lees, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.” The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring distress on men, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealous wrath, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full, yea, sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
New Revised Standard Version
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm.” Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the LORD, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
25 Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 15, 2026
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The Thessalonians, and we ourselves, are called to live according to God’s perspective of creation rather than the temptation to the sleepiness of this world.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians:
(Lead in with) RSV: As to the times…; NRSV: Concerning the times…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
As to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
New Revised Standard Version
Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
25 Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 15, 2026
Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus tells the parable of the talents, of those whom much has been given, much will be expected.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV: Jesus said, “The kingdom…”; NRSV: Jesus said, “For it is…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “The kingdom of God will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.’”
New Revised Standard Version
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.’ ”
25 Pentecost – November 15 – BCP
ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
25 Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 15, 2026
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Zephaniah prophesies that there will be consequences to the people’s sin. Persistent disobedience will not be disregarded.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Be silent before the Lord God!
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are thickening upon their lees, those who say in their hearts, ‘The LORD will not do good, nor will he do ill.’ Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.” The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring distress on men, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them on the day of the wrath of the LORD. In the fire of his jealous wrath, all the earth shall be consumed; for a full, yea, sudden end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
New Revised Standard Version
Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is at hand; the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The LORD will not do good, nor will he do harm.” Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. The great day of the LORD is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the LORD is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the LORD, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the LORD’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
25 Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 15, 2026
1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
The Thessalonians, and we ourselves, are called to live according to God’s perspective of creation rather than the temptation to the sleepiness of this world.
A reading (lesson) from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians:
(Lead in with) RSV: As to the times…; NRSV: Concerning the times…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
As to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as travail comes upon a woman with child, and there will be no escape. But you are not in darkness, brethren, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all sons of light and sons of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But, since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we wake or sleep we might live with him.
New Revised Standard Version
Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him.
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
25 Pentecost (Proper 28), Nov. 15, 2026
Matthew 25:14-15, 19-29
Jesus tells the parable of the talents, of those whom much has been given, much will be expected.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV: Jesus said, “The kingdom…”; NRSV: Jesus said, “For it is…”
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Jesus said, “The kingdom of God will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
New Revised Standard Version
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. 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.”
Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.
The Living Word | Lectionary Preaching Aids
Exploring the Texts
“To fear God, then, is to revere, love, respect, and adore the source and giver of all life. Unfortunately, the wrong kind of fear and an incorrect understanding of God can foster a life of trepidation and caution, a life devoid of prudent risk and joy.”
“Are we awake to the passing of time? Are we vigilant in the moment? ‘For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night’ (1 Thess. 5:2). Are we careful and thoughtful, alert to the promptings of grace in our lives, and diligent and prudent in our use of time?”
“In a world of finitude and scarcity, hoarding treasure makes perfect sense in certain circumstances. But maybe the talents in the parable represent not commodities to be invested or hoarded but spiritual gifts to be shared.”
Preaching Today
David Harrison: Upending the Parable of the Talents
“[The parables] are intended to make us think. To ponder. To consider anew. There are stewardship sermons to be preached about using what God has given us for the building up of the kingdom of God. And maybe, maybe—one of those things, one of those gifts, one of those talents that God has given us, is our sense of justice and fairness and belief and adherence to the values of the gospel.”
Rowan Willaims: The Wealth of His Own Being
“God in Jesus Christ gives us the wealth that he can give us. The greatest gift imaginable, the wealth of his own being, poured out and sacrificed generosity and trust. What he gives us to trade with is new life, the life in which we can trust him because of the love he shows in Jesus.”
Mark Michael: Our Pearls of Great Price
“…Before he left us, Jesus entrusted to us great gifts—like a pearl of great price, he told His disciples, like a treasure buried in a field There are no things in this world so precious as the Word that sets us free from sin and death, the Sacraments whose grace brings healing and renewal and peace.”
Classic Texts
John Calvin: God the Priest
“As they had not rightly sacrificed to God on Mount Sion, but entirely spoiled his worship, God himself declares, that he would become a priest, that he might slay, as he thought right, those beasts, who had obstinately refused his yoke.”
Francis de Sales: Look Toward God
“When our duties are of such importance that they demand our undivided attention, then we should make sure that from time to time we cast a look toward God, rather like sailors who in setting their course for port look more at the stars of heaven than the open seas.”
Helmut Thielicke: Taking God Seriously
“It is impossible to ‘know’ God by saying that first we will observe life and analyze history and then, in case we should happen to find him in this way, we will take him seriously, be active in his cause, and make him the standard of our life. It is just the other way around: only he who takes God seriously ever knows him at all. Nobody else ever knows him.”
Articles on Reaping & Sowing
John Mason Lock: Risky Investments are the Business of the Kingdom
“Our greatest example of this truth is that Christ didn’t bury the talent the Father gave him. His whole earthly life was a self-offering, a pouring out. He did not take account of the risk.”
John A. Thorpe: Don’t Wait on History
“Rather than seeing history as a series of mythic self-actuating cycles, we should see it as a narrative told by a God who uses the repetition of patterns to illuminate the laws by which he governs, thereby revealing his character.”
John Bauerschmidt: Episcopal Ministry
“Seed-planting is work undertaken in hope, with an eye to the open-ended future. Though it is humbling to acknowledge our limitations, there is also liberation in this realization. If we have challenges in this ministry, our chief regret may be that we did not scatter seed more prolifically.”
Articles on the Day of the Lord
Michael Smith: The Day of the Lord
“The ‘day of the Lord’ is a familiar theme in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was prophesied as a day both dreadful and wonderful, equally terrifying and liberating.”
Jonathan Mitchican: Hope as the World Is Ending
“This moment that we are all living through has the potential to be a great clarifying agent. If that turns out to be the case, then it will be a gift, despite all its horrors.”
Joseph Mangina: Apocalypse and Mamento Mori: Notes for a Blog About the End of the World
“But if the world as we know it is coming to an end, what should we the church be doing? We should do what we must always do: preach the gospel, celebrate the sacraments, venture out on mission.”
Articles on Fruitfulness
Will Brown: The Vernal Transgression of Boundaries
“The earth herself enacts the baptismal liturgy in prototype each spring. My piety leads me to get near and to see, to absorb the fragrance of renewal, mindful of Paul’s admonition that our failure to heed the lessons of nature leaves us without excuse (Rom. 1).”
Jonathan Turtle: Parables, Power, and Perseverance
“That is what it means to be the good soil that Jesus wants us to be and so to bear good fruit (4:8, 20). This is the reflection that Jesus’ use of parables invites: What kind of soil am I? What are the things in my life that threaten the fruitfulness of God’s word?”
John Backman: Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit
“Reams have been written about conflict resolution techniques. While they are valuable, I believe we must first prepare our inner selves by engaging in what the Church has traditionally called the ‘work of the soul.’ By actively cultivating the fruit of the Spirit within us, this work expands our capacity to reach across differences with kindness rather than hostility.”
