Rooted and Grounded in Love

Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Ephesians 3:2-12

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,
as I have written briefly earlier.
When you read this
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known to human beings in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace
that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the Church
to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him.
 

Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6

R. (see 3)  You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.
Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

 

 

Alleluia Matthew 24:42a, 44

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Stay awake!
For you do not know when the Son of Man will come.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples: 
“Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly. 
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rooted and Grounded in Love

October 22, 2026 // Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time //  Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Ephesians 3:17-19.

Reflect on the Word // 

On September 19, 1987, we waited with our seven-month-old daughter and 93,680 people for the arrival of Pope John Paul II. As the popemobile entered the Pontiac Silverdome (normally home to loud football fans), a quiet, awed hush fell over the crowd as we recognized the tangible presence of holiness and greatness. Smiling and waving, the Pope made his way to the stage for the papal Mass, and then quite unexpectedly, stopped directly in front of our seats. We thrust our daughter high in the air and John Paul II extended his hand towards baby Sarah, bestowing on her a papal blessing!

Today as we celebrate the Memorial of Pope Saint John Paul II and I ponder today’s Mass readings, I am reminded of our brief but powerful encounter with him almost forty years ago. In the First Reading, Saint Paul prayed fervently that believers in Christ might be given a deep understanding of God’s sacrificial love, resulting in perfect union with Him. Saint Paul’s prayer was beautifully embodied in the life of Pope John Paul the Great.

Christ dwelt in Pope John Paul the Great’s heart through faith (see Ephesians 3:17) and, although the Saint was a brilliant theologian and writer, he did not merely give an intellectual assent and articulation of truth. His faith was also expressed in deep trust and faithfulness to Jesus, despite much suffering and loss. God’s love, conveyed through his loving family and the extraordinary motherly protection and care of the Blessed Mother, was the foundation on which young Karol Wojtyła’s life was built and the soil in which he was planted and grew.

God’s power (see Ephesians 3:18) enables us, like it did John Paul II, to personally experience the great dimension of Christ’s infinite, sacrificial love expressed upon the Cross. Amid a darkening world, Divine Love compelled him to fight for human freedom and a renewed call to holiness. And we too are compelled by that same Divine Love.

Sisters, today let us ask Saint Paul and Saint John Paul the Great to pray for us! May we also be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love, and have the power to know and to witness to this love that surpasses knowledge.

Relate to the Lord // Consider praying this prayer of Saint John Paul II today. 

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