Woman Sewing , Van Gogh Rijksmuseum Kröller-Müller, Otterlo, Netherlands [ Web Gallery of Art ] She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands (Proverbs 31:13, First reading ). Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Gospel Matthew 25:14-30 [14-15, 19-21] ( New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition , Canada) Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: “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