By the Rev. Micah Krey
Revised Common Lectionary reflection for the Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 28, Year A
November 15, 2026
Key verse: “I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.” – Matthew 25:25
“I was afraid.”
Of everything the third servant says in Jesus’ parable, those three words may be the most revealing.
A wealthy man leaves on a journey and entrusts an extraordinary amount of money to three servants. The first two put what they have received to work. The third digs a hole and buries it. When the master returns, the servant explains why: “I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.”
Fear has shaped his stewardship.
It is worth remembering that the “talents” in this parable are not talents in our modern sense of skills or abilities. A talent was an enormous sum of money. Even the servant who receives only one talent has been entrusted with something tremendously valuable. The question is what each servant will do with what has been placed in their care.
The parable is difficult, particularly in its portrayal of the master and its harsh ending. We should be careful about turning it into a celebration of profit, investment, or reckless risk. Yet the contrast between the servants remains striking. Two put what has been entrusted to them into circulation. One, governed by fear, seeks only to preserve it.
That distinction offers an important stewardship question for the church: Are we faithfully using what has been entrusted to us, or are we so afraid of losing it that we bury it?
Congregations know this temptation. We can become so concerned with protecting buildings, budgets, traditions, programs, or institutional stability that preservation itself becomes the goal. Individuals do it too. We protect our time, resources, reputations, abilities, and relationships because using them may involve uncertainty.
But stewardship is not simply keeping something safe.
Psalm 90 asks God to “teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” Our days themselves are entrusted to us. We cannot preserve them indefinitely. They are gifts meant to be lived.
Paul makes a similar move in 1 Thessalonians. The community does not know when the day of the Lord will come, but they are not instructed to retreat in fear. They are children of light, called to remain awake, grounded in faith, love, and hope. And importantly, they are told to “encourage one another and build up each other.”
Faithful stewardship happens in that meantime.
We have been entrusted with resources, certainly, but also with time, relationships, voices, opportunities, communities, traditions, and the good news itself. The goal is not to preserve these things untouched until Christ returns. They are meant to be used for the sake of God’s world.
As leaders in our church, we might invite our congregations to ask what fear has tempted them to bury. What gift goes unused because failure seems possible? What ministry remains unexplored because change feels threatening? What resources are protected so carefully that they can no longer accomplish the purpose for which they were given?
Stewardship does not require recklessness. It does require trust.
Perhaps the opposite of faithful stewardship is not simply wastefulness. Perhaps sometimes it is fear: fear that convinces us the safest thing we can do with God’s gifts is keep them exactly as they are.
Jesus’ parable asks us to imagine another way. What has been entrusted to us is precious, but it has also been entrusted to us for something. Faithful stewardship receives the gift, gives thanks for it, and then has the courage to put it to work.
In Worship
Psalm 90 offers a natural worship connection this week: “Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.” Consider allowing that prayer to shape the service, reminding worshippers that time itself is something entrusted to our care.
One simple action would be to place seven candles near the font, altar, or another visible location, one for each day of the coming week. Light them slowly, perhaps during the prayers or following the sermon, naming each day as a gift entrusted to us: “Monday is a gift. Tuesday is a gift…” After all seven are lit, pray that God would give us wisdom to use the days ahead for love, rest, service, relationship, and the work to which we are called.
The action could conclude with the congregation repeating Psalm 90:12 together: “Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.”
Then invite worshippers to carry one question into the week: “How will I steward the days I have been given?”
Worship with Youth
Begin by asking the youth what they would do if someone handed them something extremely valuable and said, “Take care of this until I get back.” Would they hide it somewhere? Use it? Be nervous about damaging or losing it?
Explain that a talent in Jesus’ parable was not a special ability but an enormous amount of money. The third servant receives something tremendously valuable but becomes so afraid of losing it that he buries it.
Ask the youth where fear sometimes keeps people from using what they have. Someone might avoid speaking up because they fear embarrassment, refuse to try something because they might fail, or hide a creative gift because others might judge it.
Give each youth an index card and ask them to write something they have been entrusted with, not necessarily an ability. It might be time, friendship, influence, compassion, creativity, money, or an opportunity. On the other side, have them write one way they could put that gift to use this week.
Remind them that stewardship does not mean never making mistakes. It means trusting God enough to use what we have been given.
Worship with Children
Bring a small gift box and place something simple inside: crayons, seeds, or another object meant to be used.
Show the children the box and say, “Someone gave me this gift, and I want to make sure nothing happens to it.” Wrap it in another layer. Then another. Perhaps put it inside another box. Ask, “Am I taking really good care of this gift?”
Eventually someone will probably notice the problem: you cannot actually use it.
Explain that Jesus told a story about someone who was given something valuable. The person was so afraid of losing it that they buried it in the ground. It stayed safe, but nobody benefited from it.
Open the box and use whatever is inside. Explain that many gifts work that way. Kindness is meant to be shared. Creativity is meant to be used. Time can be spent helping someone. Love grows when we give it away.
Ask each child: “What is something good God has given you that you can share this week?”
Close by reminding them that taking care of God’s gifts does not always mean keeping them safe. Sometimes the best way to care for a gift is to use it.
Previously published reflections for Proper 28, Year A:
2023 – Resources, talents and risky investments
2020 – All-in Abundance
2017 – Encourage, Edify, and Live in the Light
2014 – Talent Show
