Sunday’s Coming

Frederick Douglass’s talents (Matthew 25:14-30)

When the true master returned, he found Douglass using his gifts for justice.

To receive these posts by email each Monday, sign up.

For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

Frederick Douglass, born into slavery in 1817 or 1818, realized as a young child that there must be something quite important about being able to read and write. After he was sold to a family in Baltimore, his slaveowner’s wife, Sophia Auld, taught the young Douglass the alphabet and a few simple words.