The Worthwhile Price of Wisdom

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.

The Worthwhile Price of Wisdom

October 21, 2026 // Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Ephesians 3:2-12

Reflect on the Word // 

“Frustration is the price we pay for wisdom.” 

These words were from an instructor of a leadership course at work, and they still follow me around to this day. As someone who tries to understand right and wrong very clearly, I often struggle with the weight and duty of seeing this wisdom and acting accordingly. At work, in my personal life, in my relationships, everywhere—I get frustrated that others don’t see choices and decisions the way I do.

Why doesn’t anyone else understand it this way?

In today’s First Reading, Saint Paul shares that he too was blessed with action-driven wisdom all those years ago: “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” (Ephesians 3:2-3). The spiritual knowledge revealed to Paul wasn’t only for him—it was also for those around him to be impacted by that gift of the Holy Spirit. The disciple goes on, “Of this I became a minister [. . .] so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church” (Ephesians 3:7, 10).

Saint Paul’s letter empowered me: Maybe the things I get to know and see are for the benefit of others too, and frustration may just be the tuition we pay for learning and doing extraordinary things. Like my instructor, and Saint Paul in his letters to the Ephesians, we should be grateful for the things revealed to us and see the goodness behind them and their subsequent call for action. What a gift—that God would trust us with His knowledge and that we would do good with it!

Sister, take some time today to pray about what you see clearly, where your Holy Spirit-gifted wisdom leads you, and discern what God may be asking you to do with that unique perspective you have been blessed with.

Relate to the Lord // Write down the fruit of this prayer today and what it seems God is asking you to do. Ask for the wisdom to discern and the grace to accomplish it. 

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