Vincentian Reflections

From the Deacon’s Desk:  Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts

This is the season of renewed life coming back into the Church.  Each liturgical year starts with Advent, a season which reminds us of the darkness of despair and suffering we had fallen into. At Christmas, hope points us toward a savior to be realized. As we emerge from the Lenten season; the Easter Vigil, First Communions and Confirmations all remind us of the realization of the hope and promise of Jesus.  Our Psalm this week is the second half of Psalm 22 – we heard the first part at the beginning of Holy Week.  It was the chilling words of abandonment.  As we know though, those words are not the end of the story.  For the Psalm is truly a message of Thanksgiving born out of complete confidence and trust that God does not abandon us!  The words of the Psalm just before today’s section transition us from the Passion to the promise.  “For God…did not turn away from me, but heard me when I cried out!”  He answers us and He rescues us from all that afflicts us.  As St. John tells us, “We should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.”  We are called to be his love and his healing, nourished by the author of love himself – Jesus Christ.

“I am the vine, you are the branches.  Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me, you can do nothing.”  Jesus tells us.  He is the source of everything that we have and are.  If we stray and lose sight of the vine we will wither and die.  But when we connect ourselves fully to him in trust and humility, we can do anything!  This is the core of humility – a recognition that all we have and are comes from God.  But with the nourishment He gives us, we are able to bear much fruit.  And connected to Him, we receive His love that we might share it out to others as we are called to by St. John.

For us as Vincentians, these readings remind us of what Vincent and Frèdèric continually told us – we trust in God’s Divine Providence seeking and following His will, we take the love He gives to us and we go out in humility but with great passion to service those most in need.  Through our prayer life, meditation on scripture, and in particular, participation in the Eucharist, we are nourished that we might bear much fruit ministering to those most in need.  Now more than ever, we need to make ourselves present to those who are hurting.  We need to re-ignite the flame of hope, confident in God’s love for us and our neighbors, and trusting in His will. How do I stay connected to the vine through my prayer life, meditation on scripture and the Eucharist?  How do I help others to find renewed optimism and hope?  How do I overcome the challenges and despair in life for myself and those around me?

Lord Jesus, you are the vine and we are the branches.  Help me to stay connected for on my own I am weak and nothing.  Grace me with the courage to trust in your protection of me.  Give me confidence to glorify you offering thanksgiving for your great goodness.  Allow me to become your presence and your love in action, being a beacon of light leading the faithful forward.  Permit me to overcome my fears, instilling in those around me a renewed joy in life.   We pray all of this in your name.  Amen

Deacon Mike

From the Deacon’s Desk:  Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts

This week we hear about a voice that is truer and sweeter, more powerful and strong, steadier than any other voice – the voice of the Good Shepherd – the voice of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is the Good Shepherd.  Our shepherd into eternity!  From our very birth He begins to call to us.  He is the cornerstone, the stone rejected by the builders.  We all face years which test our faith, our courage and our patience in every way possible.  This past year has been such a year for me.  The one constant in such years is God’s presence – the Good Shepard – evident in so many different ways.  He calls to us if we but listen.  He guides us and encourages us.  Most importantly, he walks beside us, leading by his humility and example, and as we are reminded every Easter season, he sacrificed his life that we might live.  There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are saved!”  “This is the love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God.”

We are reminded in years of testing of our total reliance on God.  They humble us as we recognize that we are nothing without Him and everything with Him.  We are each called to care for one another, but all we do is because of, and through Jesus the one true shepherd.  While in the Holy Land a few years back, I visited with the monks at the Church of the Good Shepherd.  They talked about the life of a shepherd.  They are willing to risk their lives for their sheep.  The sheep come to know and trust the sound of their voice.  They do not lead the sheep, but follow from behind gently guiding and directing them, making sure they do not stray too far off course, and yet also, letting the sheep find their way.  The shepherd has ‘their back’ and is always there for each of them.  This is how Jesus leads us as well.  We are the ministers working for the true Shepard.  We need to let His voice ring out through the work we do in His name!

As Vincentians, we are called to be the presence of Jesus to our neighbors AND ONE ANOTHER. Financial, emotional, medical and family crisis can turn lives upside down.  Patience, compassion and trust in God must be our steadying influences.  As Jesus walks with us, we are called to walk with others listening to their stories and offering them the calm and the hope of our Lord Jesus.  We listen for the guidance of our Shepherd that we might help others find their way in life. We help them to come to know the Good Shepherd and to trust in His will for them.  How do I truly look for His guidance in the decisions I make daily for myself and my neighbors?  How do I bring comfort to those I minister to?  How have I made my ministry even more grounded in prayer as I have been forced to find new pathways?  How do those around me come to see the   Shepherd through my presence?

Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd in whom I trust.  Help me to overcome my fears during this time.  Let me draw ever closer to you in prayer.  Open my ears that I may hear your will for me in all decisions I make.  Give me the courage to hear and share the truth of your words.  Allow me to submit humbly to all you call me to, and all you ask of me.  Allow me to take the time to seek your wisdom, listening constantly that I may not go astray. Give me the grace to spread your calm and your hope to all I encounter. Give me the courage to now step out in renewed faith, engaging with others that we might bring glory and honor to your name. Make my heart burn with the desire to do your will always.  We pray all of this in your name.  Amen

Deacon Mike

From the Deacon’s Desk:  Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts

In our gospel this week, we find the apostles recounting the encounter of two disciples with him on the Road to Emmaus. “Why are you troubled?” Jesus asks them. Recall his initial encounter on that road. The disciples were distraught and beaten down when he first encountered them. Tragedy had struck and all hope seemed lost. Try as they might, they could not make sense of what had been happening.  Jesus engaged them by first listening to hear their story.  He builds relationship with them, and then he offers a different perspective to them, helping them to come to understand. He broke open the scriptures for them and then shared a meal with them. By bringing a different perspective through relationships and friendship, he helped them to find acceptance and understanding. He brings perspective to the apostles this week as well. “Why do questions arise in your hearts?” he asks as he reminds them through his wounds of the new life he has gained for them. He brings to them – as he did to the disciples on the Road to Emmaus – peace and new hope!

It is a reminder to us as well of the victory Jesus has won for each of us.  Despite all the challenges each of us faces in our lives, Easter has come and the hope and joy of the Risen Christ overshadows our doubts and fears.  He reminds us once again of the saving grace of His great sacrifice for us.  He helps us to see our suffering with new perspective as his face shines upon us.  As Christians, we are called now by our Lord to help bring a new perspective of hope, acting with the confidence of the apostles to glorify the Lord through our care for one another, confident that Jesus walks with us!

As Vincentians, we have seen the suffering of our neighbors in the past few years as the pandemic and the ensuing health, economic, employment, and family challenges have confronted them.  In fact, in many ways, we have shared in it! Jesus comes to us asking “Why are your hearts troubled?”  He invites us to follow his model on that Road to Emmaus.

Let us approach our neighbors by first listening, entering into a relationship with them through friendship and compassion.  We can bring new perspectives to them as we offer new ways of looking at their challenges.  Through our care for them, we let the face of the Lord shine upon them.  Do I first walk with those I minister to, listening to their story with patience, compassion and mercy rather than judgment?  Do I offer different perspectives, bringing Christ’s loving care for each of us into the light, for those who are suffering – both my fellow Vincentians and my neighbors in need?

Lord Jesus, help me to see with the hope and joy of your Passion! Give me the courage and wisdom to walk with my neighbors in need, as well as my fellow Vincentians, with confidence in your will for us.  Allow me to see past the fear this pandemic has cast over us. In friendship, let me bring peace and calm to overshadow the fear of those whose hearts are troubled. Let our perspective be shifted as we recognize your loving care for us. We pray all of this in your name. Amen

Deacon Mike

From the Deacon’s Desk:  Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts

Easter is a season of faith and faith is all about belief.  Belief in something greater than us.  Belief especially in the face of adversity and fear.  Belief when all is darkness and there is no reason to believe!  Belief that leads us out of darkness to hope and joy!  We are challenged in our society today to remain steadfast in our beliefs.  Darkness can descend around us even on our most sacred days as we watch protesters disrupt services at St. Patrick’s Cathedral at the Easter Vigil.  Our society attacks our basic social sensibilities and norms.  We are challenged to know who to help, when to help and how to help.  Violence by some can cause fear in many.  Truth becomes hard to find and confusion can reign supreme.  But Easter calls us to a renewed faith even as we struggle to find our footing.  Jesus tells Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”  It is a clarion call to have faith, to believe, even in the face of serious doubts.

As we enter into the season of Easter we are reminded of the mercy of God on this, Divine Mercy Sunday.  We are called – particularly in times of struggle – to see beyond our fears and recognize the hope of our Lord Jesus.  Jesus is patient with us as he was with Thomas. He understands our doubts and calms us with His words “Peace be with you!”   He is well pleased with those who have total faith with no doubts, but is merciful to those who have doubts and continues to call us to Him in merciful love.  In our gospel for Holy Thursday, an often overlooked statement is “He loved his own in the world, and he loved them to the end.”  God’s mercy is so extensive that we can never be out of reach for his mercy.  His love, His mercy, His hope never ends!

As Vincentians, we minister to those who are hurting and suffering in life. Especially now, we encounter neighbors who have not faced such concerns in the past. As we minister to them and help them to see the hope of tomorrow, we look to grow in holiness by overcoming our own woundedness, fears and prejudices.  We are the wounds of Christ that they may see His love and goodness through us and rejoice in the hope he brings them.  In the strength of their faith, we are reminded of Christ’s call to us to live in faith even when it is difficult.  Together, we say to one another, “Peace be with you!” and we offer the assurance of Christ’s abiding and enduring love and mercy.   God never quits on us – do we have the same passion for our neighbors in need?  Am I patient with those I minister to, as Christ is patient with me?  Am I merciful to others as He is to me?  Does their faith and woundedness help me to be strengthened in my faith and trust in God?

Lord Jesus, help me to overcome my doubts and fears, trusting always in your goodness, mercy and love.  Allow me to be the wounds of your cross, which help strengthen the faith and hope of others.  Help me to minister with patience and humility, always helping others to see you in all things.   We pray all of this in your name.  Amen

Deacon Mike