Tag: Saint Vincent de Paul

“But who do you say that I am?” | Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

From the responsorial psalm: “LORD, what is man, that you notice him; the son of man, that you take thought of him? Man is like a breath; his days, like a passing shadow. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 9:18-22)

Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Just as Herod heard all the commotion about Jesus and wondered who he was, Jesus questions the disciples about who people say that he is. They say nearly the same that Herod said—John the Baptist, Elijah, an ancient prophet who has arisen. But then Jesus asks Peter—an everyman, one of us—in a way that is meant to be heard deep in our hearts: “But who do you say that I am?” When Peter answers that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus warns them sternly not to tell anyone. The Son of God, the I AM come down to earth asks anybody and everybody the same question: “Who do you say that I am?”

God, help me see Jesus as Peter sees him. While in prayer, Jesus asks the disciples who people say that he is. After Peter answers him, Jesus lays out the whole plan of salvation—that he would willingly endure his passion, be killed, and raised on the third day. The disciples are perplexed at this. Your ways, Lord, are not my ways and I also fail to understand. Give me the grace to trust in your providential care, as the first reading expresses: “He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man’s ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.” Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

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.

“Take nothing for the journey.” | Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 9:1-6)

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends out the Twelve to do what he has shown them to do through his words and actions: proclaim the good news and heal the sick. As he sends them out, Jesus gives the apostles power and authority over demons and illnesses. At the same time, he tells them the means to remain within the Kingdom of God even as they proclaim it. “Take nothing for the journey,” he says, and then lays out for them specific details. Just as Jesus proclaimed the Gospel and cured diseases, he sends the Twelve out to do the same, showing them how to sustain themselves along the way by trusting in his Father’s care and remaining in it.

Father in heaven, the words of Jesus your Son are clear: “take nothing for the journey.” When I consider how it is possible to live in the complete trust of your providential care, I realize how far I am from that. I have everything I need; I lack no thing. To the extent that I am able to detach from many things and from plentiful food, how would I see your power and authority to do your will take shape in me? It’s a question I don’t often ask. Lord, give me the grace during the day’s journey to give up something, to make a small sacrifice, for the sake of consciously coming into your presence. Then, help me call to mind, that strengthened by you, you will place in my way something I can do to proclaim your word, heal some hurt or illness, or bring before you someone who especially needs your love.

From the responsorial psalm: “He scourges and then has mercy; he casts down to the depths of the nether world, and he brings up from the great abyss. No one can escape his hand. Blessed be God, who lives for ever.” Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us!

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.

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.

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