Reflection for 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time

I hope you can allow me to take a little different turn this week. When looking through the readings for today, I couldn’t get past the opening of the first reading: “When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her, has an unfailing prize.” I would like to share the “worthy wife” and “unfailing prize” that is part of my life. And perhaps some of my thoughts might encourage some other men to appreciate what they have as well.

Like the servant in today’s Gospel, God expects us to do something with what we have, to use his gifts for the good of others. And that’s what my wife, Pat, does. She has the ability to love, to forgive, to be compassionate, to be generous. She works with loving hands, not with wool and flax, but with craft ribbon, with stamping, with wreath and flower arrangements, with face mask materials, and with food. Her fidelity in doing the simple, ordinary tasks leads to great rewards. So many times she has freely given her creations to others, because she knows it will make them happy. Her hand is always the first to be raised when she finds out that relatives or neighbors are sick or need a meal or a dessert. I frequently ask myself, “What is this costing us?” But Pat's not worried about cost. She extends her hands and her arms and her heart to those in need. What a great example she is.

Our responsorial psalm today says: “Your wife is like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children like olive plants around your table.” I must admit, the many times that I have heard this psalm I frequently saw Pat as the heart of our family. But I always struggled with seeing our children as olive plants around the table. Olive plants? But after our trip to Italy last fall, where we saw acres and acres of olive trees and the importance of olive oil in their cooking, I began to see the value and blessings of the olive, and the values and blessings of our children around the table (which probably won’t happen this year because of Covid-19). And then we realize that the man, the husband, the father is the one who is blessed.

So, my message to all husbands is this: take time to cherish the true value who is the heart of your home. Bringing home a decent pay check, staying loyal to her and providing a nice house are important but not enough. Women say that they look for more than things from us. They want us to listen; they want us to share feelings; they want our attention - all things that don’t cost money.

So we remind ourselves, when you have found a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. When you entrust your heart to her, you have an unfailing prize. Always respond with love for her labors, and let her works praise her at the city gates.

If you have a brief faith reflection on today’s reading that you would like to share, please send it to me at deaconruss@holyspiritunoh.org.