Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him.

From today’s short Gospel reading, Jesus acts in two ways: first, he resolutely determines to go to Jerusalem to fulfill his purpose through his passion, death, and resurrection; second, he rebukes James and John for wishing to call down fire from heaven on a Samaritan village, which did not welcome Jesus because his destination was Jerusalem. In both actions, Jesus chooses to respect the free will of those who reject him; in doing so, he serves those who wish to do the will of the Father. The Gospel acclamation, the same as yesterday, says, “The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Many, but not all. Jesus can serve only those who desire to receive him.

In what way, God, do I make myself ready to receive your Son? He resolutely determines to serve and and does not impose his will on anyone who would reject him. If he is resolute and changeless—determined to fulfill his passion, death, and resurrection—in what ways do I respond to that in order to follow him? How do I go about receiving him on a daily basis, and whom am I receiving? The source and summit of our faith, the Eucharist, is one way. In body and blood, soul and divinity, Jesus is present in the Eucharist and there to be received. Another way? Saint Mother Teresa makes clear a path. “Whenever I meet someone in need,” she said, “it’s really Jesus in his most distressing disguise.” God, help me see where the need is today and be ready to receive you. Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

I will forget you, God, as I go about this day. When I do remember you, past experience tells me that it will be weakly and in passing. I ask that you make clear to me then through grace when the opportunity comes to receive you. Stay with me, Lord; let me know and do your will.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time

An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

The first reading from Job and the Gospel reading go hand in hand in a subtle way. Job loses everything he has, is humbled to the ground, yet says, "The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” In the Gospel reading, Jesus addresses the argument among the disciples about which is the greatest. Jesus’ answer? The least. To follow God means to put on humility. All is God’s gift, and that recognition comes out of humility. “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb,” Job says, “and naked shall I go back again.”

God, help me be grateful for the gifts that you surround me with daily. If I recognize them, there is a chance that I will see how I depend on you for everything I am and everything I have. Even more, help me recognize the gift of your grace whether it is in giving or taking away.

The Gospel acclamation says, “The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Lord, your disciples wanted to know who was the most powerful among them. Seeing their intentions, you took a child beside you and taught them that the least is the greatest. Take me today and place me by your side. Keep me in your care as I imitate you, serving you humbly in my words and actions (and if it be your will, serving as a ransom for the needs of others I meet today). Help me remember to see all that you have given me; let me receive you and receive the one who sent you, your Father in heaven.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Abraham replied, “My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells the parable of the poor man Lazarus and the rich man whose door Lazarus would lie outside of. The rich man would have needed to step over Lazarus every time he left or entered his house, yet there he let the man lie, covered with sores and longing for scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. To what extreme did the rich man go to ignore Lazarus, and to what extreme do any of us go to ignore the poor, and not only the materially poor but the spiritually poor? The Gospel acclamation says, “Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.”

God, help me see the poor who lie outside my door and need care. Just as Abraham said to the rich man in the parable, Jesus might say to me: “Remember that you received what was good during your lifetime.” Help me recall this and be inspired by the Holy Spirit to act when the time is ripe. As Saint Mother Teresa said, “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the action that we do. It is to God Almighty—how much we do it does not matter, because He is infinite, but how much love we put in that action. How much we do to Him in the person that we are serving.”

Thank you, Lord, for this day of rest; let me keep this day holy. As Saint Paul says in the second reading, may I pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness and “keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Stay with me today, Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

Saturday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

While they were all amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his disciples, “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples surely listened closely to Jesus as he said to them “pay attention,” yet they did not understand what he meant by saying he would be handed over to men. Even more, they were afraid to ask him what he meant. The darkening days described in the first reading from Ecclesiastes serve as a backdrop for these words of Jesus. The sun is darkened, and the light of the moon and stars is darkened. This sounds like imagery that suits Good Friday, where all the light and hope that Jesus brought to his disciples seemed to be overshadowed by the horror of the cross and by death. Yet, unlike his disciples, we know the story doesn’t end in darkness and death but in new life and resurrection.

Like Qoheleth expresses in Ecclesiastes, there are days when I feel the shortness of this life and the days that come when there is no pleasure, where darkness comes and all things are vanity. But, God, clear my mind to understand that this is not all there is, that there is a time for this life to end and a new one to come. The Gospel acclamation says, “Our Savior Christ Jesus destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.” The shortness of life, Lord, I often lament, but help me keep at hand the words of your Son who asks that I pay attention: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” It was after that, at the Last Supper, that Jesus institutes the Eucharist. In the aftermath of his crucifixion, in your Son’s resurrection, darkness gives way to dawn, death is destroyed, and eternal life is brought to life. Thanks be to you, Father in heaven!

God, I know you love me. Be present with me today. Give me the grace to recognize your presence, and in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, know and do your will.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

Readings