Vincentian Reflections

“Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the splendor of glory from God forever.”  Our first reading today speaks to a people who were being challenged to remember their religious roots while living in a society that was contrary to all that faith had taught them.  But despite their missteps and sins of the past, great hope is coming for them to change their ways – and to change the course of history.  “Look to the East” they are instructed.  That is where a tiny baby boy will usher in this new and eternal hope.  He will make straight the path as he removes the obstacles and makes our journey possible.  It is the hope of God’s love shared by St. Paul and others in the second reading.  It is the hope we are called to share with others – the greatest gift we can possibly give. 

John the Baptist ushers this new hope in with the clarion call pointing directly to Jesus and calling us to repentance.  The hope of Christ is ours for the taking – no matter what we may have done in the past.  We often find ourselves challenged today the way those in the first reading were.  We live in a society that is so often hostile to the teachings of our Lord.  We can easily fall prey to the sinful ways of this society.  But the hope that the prophet Baruch, that St. Paul, and that John the Baptist all point to is offered to each of us as well.  When we come humbly before the Lord, seeking his will for our lives and offering a true conversion of heart, he wraps us in his loving arms and fills us with joy.  To do so, we need to intentionally prepare our hearts and change those things which are not of God.   

As Vincentians, we make that promised hope visible to those we minister to as well.  It is God’s love and mercy made ever more present as we grow in our love and knowledge.  As a consequence, filled with God’s love, we bring that love to others.   It is through humility and love of God; through patience and kindness; through forgiveness, mercy and compassion that we become vessels of God’s healing presence.  How do I prepare myself to be a humble servant of God’s love?  How do I make His hope evident and present to all I encounter?  How do I join myself to St. Paul in sharing his love broadly? 

Father, you are the author of love!  Indeed, you are love itself!  Give me the grace to be a conduit of your love to all those around me.  Help me to walk humbly before you, accepting your will for myself and others.  Grace me with the ability to make your hope evident for all to see by the way I live my life and share your love.   I pray all of this in your Son’s name.  Amen 

Deacon Mike 

At first glance, our readings this week can be quite jarring as they seem to talk about doom and gloom.  They talk about distress, darkness, collapse, and times of tribulation.   These readings though, are actually about hope – the hope of Jesus Christ!  The writers of both Daniel and Mark’s gospel are speaking to a people who have been facing these very challenges.  They speak to us as well, for even today we find ourselves increasingly faced with a society that is hostile to our values and beliefs.  Recent years have created times of uncertainty financially, emotionally, health wise and spiritually. We do not know what tomorrow is bringing as a nation or individually.  It can be scary!  Especially for those of us who like to be in control. 

Mark’s intention though, isn’t to frighten us into submission, but to give us hope and confirm the hope of Jesus Christ.  These readings reveal God’s plan and final purpose for us.  Pain and suffering will not have the last word.  Persecution and hatred will not have the last word. The weak, the vulnerable and the poor – including us – will not be held down! Satan will not have the last word!  We do not know when the end time is, but we do know the way to salvation.  For we know with certainty that Jesus is victorious and has opened the doors of salvation for us.  Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life.”  We are to follow him.  He is made present and evident through us and our actions.  When we follow God’s call and His word through our actions, we help to usher in the second coming. 

The vision we hear in our readings involves our participation.  God chose prophets to call people back to just living and the cause of righteousness.  Jesus called the apostles and disciples to go out to announce God’s Kingdom rooted in love; to heal people’s hurts, and to reconcile enemies.  The readings call us to faith, trust in God AND following where God leads us.  Our second reading reinforces that Jesus is our model and salvation – nothing more is needed.  We hear in Daniel, “Those who lead many to justice will shine like the stars forever.”  This is where the readings about the end of time become less about something we hope will be in the far future, and more about the way that we are living our faith now.  We need to lead the many to justice.  We are called to lead others to justice.  We are called to help them see His Presence in our actions, our care for the poor, the struggling, the sick, and all who are dependent on our compassion.  We are called to live our faith, reflecting the love of Christ here and now, that we might shine like the stars. 

As Vincentians, people who are struggling, people who are in need, people who are frightened come before us every day. Jesus calls us to make his Truth, his Mercy, and his Hope visible to all.  He comes for us in power and glory to provide us the strength and wisdom if we will but faithfully follow him.  He gives us his angels and saints to guide and defend us.  Do I trust in God’s will, and the victory of Jesus over demonic evils?  Do I let my prayer life form my actions and lead me to compassion and mercy for the poor and struggling?   How do I make the victory of Jesus evident to those I encounter every day? 

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle.  Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and all the evil; spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.  We pray all of this in your name.  Amen 

Deacon Mike 

Jesus is in teaching mode this week, but you can easily miss his primary lesson, especially if you read only the short version of the gospel.  He has been in the temple area preaching since his entry into Jerusalem.  Pay attention to what catches his eye – what impresses him. Many people focus on the widow who put in everything she had and the attention and praise Jesus gives her for doing so.  You may see it as a call for all of us to give more – kind of a fundraising program – but that’s not really his point.   

This lesson is about a contrast between scribes and the poor widow (aka the weak and vulnerable).  What caught his eye?  Not the high social standing or religious airs of the scribes.  They caught his ire, for their treatment of others as he noted “they devour the houses of widows.”  Jesus saw what others would have missed, a poorly dressed, sad looking woman with grief written on her face, coming to the Temple. She wasn’t important to others and in fact would have been pushed aside.  But she was rich in faith and had deep roots in trust for the Lord.  What she gave was not just sacrificial, but more importantly, came from the heart.  She gave not just of her material self, but she gave completely of herself in total to God.  Jesus calls us not only to notice the vulnerable, but to become their advocates condemning the actions of those who diminish them. 

As Vincentians, we are often confronted with those who have been mistreated and discarded in society. Many are victims of social injustice and an economic system which disadvantages them. We are called to be their advocates, to notice them, and to not let them be discarded.   Despite the obstacles, so often we see great faith and generosity in those who are vulnerable as well.  How many times I have heard it asked, “Why did they give that money away when it could have helped them?”  And the reply is so simple – because someone else needed it.  We would do well to learn from the poor, – faith and generosity grounded in trust in the Lord.  A faith born out of humility and a deep desire to do the will of God.  How do I call out the systems and practices which work against the poor improving their lives?  Am I swayed by the glamour, power and pretenses of those in positions of influence, or is it the needs of the poor that catches my eye?  How do I look in the right places to become rich in faith? 

Lord Jesus, help me to see the injustices of society and help me to work against them.  Help me to see beyond the glitz, glamour and power of some in society to notice those who are hurting.  Grace me with the ability Lord, to see beyond the surface into the hearts of those in need.  Allow me to be a conduit of your love lifting them up that they might feel your warm embrace.  Make me an advocate with others that I might in turn become rich in your love.  We pray all of this in your name.  Amen 

Deacon Mike 

Jesus is in teaching mode this week, but you can easily miss his primary lesson, especially if you read only the short version of the gospel. He has been in the temple area preaching since his entry into Jerusalem. Pay attention to what catches his eye – what impresses him. Many people focus on the widow who put in everything she had and the attention and praise Jesus gives her for doing so. You may see it as a call for all of us to give more – kind of a fundraising program – but that’s not really his point.

This lesson is about a contrast between scribes and the poor widow (aka the weak and vulnerable). What caught his eye? Not the high social standing or religious airs of the scribes. They caught his ire, for their treatment of others as he noted “they devour the houses of widows.” Jesus saw what others would have missed, a poorly dressed, sad looking woman with grief written on her face, coming to the Temple. She wasn’t important to others and in fact would have been pushed aside. But she was rich in faith and had deep roots in trust for the Lord. What she gave was not just sacrificial, but more importantly, came from the heart. She gave not just of her material self, but she gave completely of herself in total to God. Jesus calls us not only to notice the vulnerable, but to become their advocates condemning the actions of those who diminish them.

As Vincentians, we are often confronted with those who have been mistreated and discarded in society. Many are victims of social injustice and an economic system which disadvantages them. We are called to be their advocates, to notice them, and to not let them be discarded. Despite the obstacles, so often we see great faith and generosity in those who are vulnerable as well. How many times I have heard it asked, “Why did they give that money away when it could have helped them?” And the reply is so simple – because someone else needed it. We would do well to learn from the poor, – faith and generosity grounded in trust in the Lord. A faith born out of humility and a deep desire to do the will of God. How do I call out the systems and practices which work against the poor improving their lives? Am I swayed by the glamour, power and pretenses of those in positions of influence, or is it the needs of the poor that catches my eye? How do I look in the right places to become rich in faith?

Lord Jesus, help me to see the injustices of society and help me to work against them. Help me to see beyond the glitz, glamour and power of some in society to notice those who are hurting. Grace me with the ability Lord, to see beyond the surface into the hearts of those in need. Allow me to be a conduit of your love lifting them up that they might feel your warm embrace. Make me an advocate with others that I might in turn become rich in your love. We pray all of this in your name. Amen

Deacon Mike