20261021 BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF CHRIST’S MYSTERY
21 October 2026, Wednesday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
Ephesians 3:2-12 |
The pagans now share the same inheritance
You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery, as I have just described it very shortly. If you read my word you will have some idea of the depths that I see in the mystery of Christ. This that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel. I have been made the servant of that gospel by a gift of grace from God who gave it to me by his own power. I, who am less than the least of all the saints have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed. Through all the ages, this has been kept hidden in God, the creator of everything. Why? So that the Sovereignties and Powers should learn only now, through the Church, how comprehensive God’s wisdom really is, exactly according to the plan which he had had from all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is why we are bold enough to approach God in complete confidence, through our faith in him.
Responsorial Psalm | Isaiah 12 |
The rejoicing of a redeemed people
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Truly, God is my salvation,
I trust, I shall not fear.
For the Lord is my strength, my song,
he became my saviour.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name!
Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples!
Declare the greatness of his name.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Sing a psalm to the Lord
for he has done glorious deeds;
make them known to all the earth!
People of Zion, sing and shout for joy,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Gospel Acclamation | Jn10:27 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 12:39-48 |
The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’
BE FAITHFUL STEWARDS OF CHRIST’S MYSTERY
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [EPHESIANS 3:2-12; LUKE 12:39-48]
What is this mystery of Christ? A “mystery” refers to a religious secret. When Paul uses the word, he is referring to God’s previously hidden plan of salvation for humanity – “unknown to any man in past generations” – which has now been revealed in Christ. Through God’s graciousness, He has made known “this mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets.” Christ is revealed as the mystery of salvation: the divine plan of God for humanity and creation. Through the Holy Spirit, God enabled the apostles to understand Jesus as Saviour of the world through His death and resurrection.
As a consequence, salvation is no longer reserved exclusively for the Jewish people; it is now offered to all, including the Gentiles, through faith in Him. This was unimaginable during the time of Paul because, until the coming of Christ, salvation was seen as belonging exclusively to the Jews, who regarded themselves as the Chosen People of God. But with Christ’s coming, Paul emphasises that salvation is available to everyone: “It means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.” This is an extraordinary privilege, as non-Jews are now numbered among the people of God. Gentile Christians are “co-heirs” with the children of Abraham to the inheritance God promised Israel. As St. Peter wrote in his letter: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Pt 2:9-10). Indeed, this message is wonderful: through the Gospel, Gentiles are heirs together with Israel.
The result of Jews and Gentiles coming together into one family is that we become one body in Christ. Gentiles become co-partners in the promise made to Abraham by receiving the Gospel in Christ. By uniting themselves to Him, they share in God’s blessings. This is why Paul said, “we are bold enough to approach God in complete confidence, through our faith in him.” In this one body, Paul writes: “As many of you as were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise” (Gal 3:27-29). This is the wisdom of God revealed to all, including rulers and earthly authorities. As Paul says: “Through all the ages, this has been kept hidden in God, the creator of everything. Why? So that the Sovereignties and Powers should learn only now, through the Church, how comprehensive God’s wisdom really is, exactly according to the plan which he had from all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Even the angels and demons marvel at the wisdom of God’s plan, and the devil looks on in fear and trembling. God ultimately fooled the devil by allowing Jesus to die on the cross, turning what seemed like defeat into ultimate victory.
Through the mystery of Christ, we come to appreciate God’s eternal purpose for humanity. History has never been out of control, despite human sinfulness. God remains in control of history, directing all things and accomplishing His purpose in Christ. This is what the mystery of Christ is essentially about. Christ is that infinite treasure given to all of us–not just Christians, but every man and woman, for Christ comes to save everyone. Paul wrote that God “desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim 2:4-6). But how will those who do not know Christ be saved? While there is no simple human answer, we know, as Peter proclaimed, that God shows no partiality: “in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35).
Those of us who have received this revelation carry the responsibility of sharing God’s divine plan of salvation with the rest of humanity.When we receive God’s grace, it is never meant for us alone, but to be shared. Paul was deeply conscious of his duty to pass on what he had received, having been given special insight into the mystery of Christ as our Saviour. He wrote: “You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery.” What he received, he sought to pass on to the world so that others might appreciate the mystery of God’s plan in Christ. As Christians, our mission is to proclaim Christ crucified as Lord and Saviour. We are called to share the full plan of God in Christ–not a deficient Gospel or a compromised identity of Christ.
Paul’s calling was, of course, a unique grace. He had the privilege of encountering the Risen Lord and was set apart to proclaim that revelation to the Gentiles. He wrote: “I have been made the servant of that gospel by a gift of grace from God who gave it to me by his own power. I, who am less than the least of all the saints, have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed.” It was this encounter and calling that radically transformed him from a persecutor of Christians into an apostle to the Gentiles. He was humbled and filled with awe at God’s mercy, considering himself the least worthy of all.
Yet, Paul was given this grace specifically for the work Christ had entrusted to him. As the Lord told Ananias: “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:15-16). In his letter to Timothy, Paul recalled God’s grace and mercy toward him: “I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Tim 1:12-14).
Like Paul, we are all privileged to know the Lord, and we share a responsibility to spread the Word of God and proclaim Christ as God’s revealed mystery. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us of our duty in God’s household; we must be ready to stand before the Lord and give an account of the grace we have received. Jesus said to His disciples: “You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Though we do not know when the Lord will return, like vigilant servants, we must faithfully steward the trust He has given us by sharing the infinite treasure of salvation with all.
When we are faithful with the gifts He grants us, He entrusts us with even more. As the Lord asked: “What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns.” This is why we must live with eternity in view. We must remain attentive and alert so that when He returns, He finds us faithful. Conversely, the Lord warns us against negligence, cautioning us not to be like the servant who says to himself, “‘My master is taking his time coming,’ and sets about beating the manservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk.” His master will return unexpectedly, cut him off, and assign him the fate of the unfaithful.
What kind of servants are we? Have we found opportunities to share the Good News and cultivate the gifts we have received–especially our faith? If not, we risk facing the consequences of our negligence. As Scripture warns: “The servant who knows what his master wants but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.”
Best Practices for Using the Daily Scripture Reflections
- Encounter God through the spirit of prayer and the scripture by reflecting and praying the Word of God daily. The purpose is to bring you to prayer and to a deeper union with the Lord on the level of the heart.
- Daily reflections when archived will lead many to accumulate all the reflections of the week and pray in one sitting. This will compromise your capacity to enter deeply into the Word of God, as the tendency is to read for knowledge rather than a prayerful reading of the Word for the purpose of developing a personal and affective relationship with the Lord.
- It is more important to pray deeply, not read widely. The current reflections of the day would be more than sufficient for anyone who wants to pray deeply and be led into an intimacy with the Lord.
Note: You may share this reflection with someone. However, please note that reflections are not archived online nor will they be available via email request.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
