He Knows

Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Ephesians 3:14-21

Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19

R. (5b) The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
For upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever;
the design of his heart, through all generations.
Blessed the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he has chosen for his own inheritance.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

Alleluia Philippians 3:8-9

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I consider all things so much rubbish
that I may gain Christ and be found in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope

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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.

October 24, 2026 // Saturday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time // Optional Memorial of Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Ephesians 4:7-16

Reflect on the Word //

I sat across from a dear friend—fresh tears rolled slowly down her face. Her eyes searched for words that would somehow make sense of the suffering she held tenderly in her heart. I sat and listened instead of trying to fix it. As she shared, I recognized parts of my own story within hers—moments of waiting, disappointment, betrayal, and questions that once felt too heavy to bring to God.

As we sat together, I remembered just how faithfully the Lord had met me there, not by removing every hardship, but by remaining with me through them. His presence became the anchor among the waves. And a quiet realization became the only comfort I had to offer: He knows. He truly knows.

Saint Paul writes, "Grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ's gift" (Ephesians 4:7). Before speaking about the gifts Christ gives, he reminds us that Jesus first "descended into the lower regions of the earth" before ascending in glory (Ephesians 4:9-10). Christ did not save us from a distance—He became Man and entered every part of our human experience.

Christ our Lord knew grief, rejection, loneliness, exhaustion, and sorrow. There is no suffering we carry in our lives that is unfamiliar to Him. Because He entered our humanity so completely, we can entrust Him with every part of our hearts. He can then become our anchor when life feels uncertain.

Yet He doesn't only meet us in our suffering—He transforms us through it. Christ gives each of us grace "for building up the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12). The places where we have encountered His faithfulness often become the places from which we can encourage others. In Christ's hands, no suffering is wasted. He forms us through it, then uses our stories to reveal His hope and faithfulness to the world.

Each of us has been given unique gifts through Christ, and many are shaped in the hidden, quiet places where we have encountered His love most personally. The Lord Who entered our humanity is still at work, strengthening us, maturing us, and using our lives to build up His Church with hope.

Relate to the Lord // Pray with us the refrain from the Surrender Novena: “Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything!”

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About Shalini Blubaugh

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Shalini Blubaugh is a Minnesota transplant living in Coppell, Texas. She served with NET Ministries and went on to graduate with her J.D., though happily left all things law behind. Along with her roles as wife and mom, she now runs her own company, Pray. Train. Grow., as a Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. Her mission is to help Catholic women grow STRONG in mind, body, and heart through the integration of Faith, fitness and food.