Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - Wednesday in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
[Eph 3:2-12 and Luke 12:39-48]To me, the 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. [Ephesians]
The grand vision of the Letter to the Ephesians becomes focused on the apostolic mission of Paul. He has been gifted with the "mystery" of God that was "hidden" for all ages and only partially revealed to the Jews but now revealed in Christ Jesus to all humankind! It is a "gift of God's grace" that Paul has received and which motivates and drives him in his mission.
Because of the grand scale of this letter, most scripture scholars today regard the letter as a work of one of Paul's disciples. The theological vision, which begins from all eternity and not simply a contemporary situation, shows a development that most probably post-dates Paul's ministry. Even so, it is founded on the initial preaching of Paul that, in turn, motivated and impelled others to write in his name.
What is most important now is to realize that we have received that same "gift of grace" through faith which is founded on God's revelation in the scriptures and Tradition and personified in Christ. In the midst of daily challenges and needs, it can be difficult to spend time on something that is "awesome" (in the real sense) and all encompassing. We may sense it in a visit to a great cathedral or even a natural wonder like the Grand Canyon. We tend to reserve such grandeur to special visits and occasions. But we possess the vision and mystery of God by virtue of our baptism and are meant to be, in Pope Francis' term, "missionary disciples!" Pope Leo the Great put it well: "Christian! Remember your dignity!" AMEN