Category: All Posts

Gospel: (Luke 3:10-18)

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He answered, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”… Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”…Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached the good news to the people.

Reflection:

The “good news” is a message of a topsy-turvy world. John baptizes and preaches to the crowds, the “common folk”, and in answer to the question “What should we do?” he answers to the effect, “more than you would wish to do or that can be expected of you”— share what you have with those who have not. John’s good news is that of a totally different way of seeing life. The question, “What should we do?” is asked three times in today’s gospel, and the answer is invariable: reach out to the marginalized with whatever you have and they need. This is the good news of John, and it is identical to the good news Jesus preached. John directs our attention to Jesus and the inauguration of his ministry to the poor and those in need. And so we ask, “What should we do?”(Living Liturgy, p. 14)

Vincentian Meditation:

Sr. Rosalie said: “One night I dreamed that I stood at the judgment seat of God. He received me with great severity and was about to pronounce my sentence to perdition, when suddenly I was surrounded by an immense throng of persons carrying old shoes, hats, and clothing which they showed to God and said, ‘She gave us all these things!’ Then God looked at me and said, ‘Because you gave all these old clothes in My Name, I open heaven to you. Enter, for all eternity!” (White Wings and Barricades, p.161)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence) If we looked at Jesus and asked, “What should we do?” what answer would he give to us?

Closing Prayer: As our Advent journey continues, we turn in hope to Christ and ask, -Lord Jesus, what should we do? Watch over all children, that they may know your love, -Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay. Protect all who are abused and neglected, -Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay. Strengthen all Vincentians in their efforts to reveal your love, -Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay. Amen

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Gospel: (Luke 3:1-6) The word of God was spoken to John in the desert. He went about the entire region of the Jordan proclaiming a baptism of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins, as is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A herald’s voice in the desert, crying, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, clear him a straight path. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be leveled. The windings shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth, and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.”

Reflection: John the Baptist urges us to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Our culture tells us to prepare for the birth of a Baby, an event that evokes wonderful feelings of warmth and happiness. But John’s message of “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” suggests that we must examine our lives in light of the salvation we seek. It is difficult to orient our lives, anticipation, and preparation with balance and vision toward a glorious Christ who is yet to come. It is far easier to prepare for a Jesus who is a sweet, innocent Baby. The gospel challenges us to take the real events of our everyday lives—all the suffering and pain, all the anxiety and hopelessness, all the joy and peace—and see them as means to recognize the presence of Christ to us. This is what Advent is all about—recognizing the presence of Christ in our lives as salvation already come. (Living Liturgy, p. 10)

Vincentian Meditation: God speaks to us in all sorts of ways: through Scriptures, through his Church, but also through all the events, great and small, that happen to us. Since most of our lives are made up of very ordinary tasks which we must do each day, it is in these especially that the voice of the Lord is to be heard. We make the mistake so often of expecting God to speak to us through some great event or happening when, in fact, all the time He is speaking to us in all the small events of each day. Sometimes in life we don’t know what to do. God lead us even when our path changes radically, ends abruptly or is surrounded in darkness. By sitting patiently and trustingly in prayer, we gradually see or feel his presence and guidance. It is also true that God often uses the people and the happenings in our daily life to teach us and lead us on the way we should go. Advent tells us to be attentive, to listen in patience and peace.

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence)
How has Advent been a time of recognizing and finding the presence of Christ in your life?

Closing Prayer:

Come Lord Jesus, give us the grace to, -trust in your loving presence and guidance. Come Lord Jesus, give us the grace to, – “Make ready the way of the Lord.” As we eagerly await your coming, come to all people -especially the poor and the forgotten. Amen

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Gospel: (Luke 21:25-28, 34-36)
Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon and the stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish, distraught at the roaring of the sea and the waves. Men will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the earth. The powers in the heavens will be shaken. After that, men will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with great power and glory. When these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, for your ransom is near at hand. Be on guard… The great day will suddenly close in on you like a trap. The day I speak of will come upon all who dwell on the face of the earth, so be on the watch. Pray constantly for the strength to escape whatever is in prospect, and to stand secure before the Son of Man.”
Reflection:
This time of year is filled with anticipation and waiting! The important questions for us are, “What do we anticipate?” and “How do we await?” Stores are filled with Christmas things. Lights and decorations have sprung up. Christmas music on the radio is another harbinger of the day for which we wait. Our work of preparation is busied with card- sending, party-planning and attending, and gift-shopping. The First Sunday of Advent, the Church’s New Year, ushers in a different way of waiting, of heightened anticipation. We Christians don’t wait for a what, but for a Whom. And that changes the character of our waiting! If the followers of Christ are vigilant and have lives “blameless in holiness,” then when Christ comes they can “stand erect” without fear but with joyful anticipation of their redemption. This is the Whom and what of our waiting! (Living Liturgy, p. 2)

Vincentian Meditation:
Waiting in joyful anticipation…if we are to rejoice in the grace of God, we must have eyes that see and ears that hear. That in turn demands a reflecting heart, the sort of heart which Our Lady had and with which, she “pondered all things in her heart.” Our Lady has a marvelous capacity for wonder. There can be no wonder in our lives without silence. We are called to the service of the poor, but our service must come from a heart which resembles that of Our Lady who knew how to be silent, who knew how to wonder, who knew who to marvel at the grace of God, without which we can do nothing. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 56)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of  silence)
How will you “await” in joyful anticipation, silence and wonder for
Christmas this Advent?

Closing Prayer:
Lord, as we await the fulfillment of your promise,
-give us a heart that knows how to be silent.
You come as a visible sign of love,
-give us a heart that knows how to wonder.
Strengthen us by your grace,
-give us a heart that lives in joyful anticipation. Amen

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The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

Gospel: (John 18:33-37)
Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a King. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Reflection:
Living the paschal mystery means that we see the victorious Christ even in the everyday trials and difficulties that we face. Living the paschal mystery means that we are ever faithful to the rhythm of dying and rising as it unfolds every day—in our prayer, work, leisure. Living the paschal mystery means that we are mediators for those whom we meet—that we are the body of Christ leading others to holier and happier lives. If someone should then ask us, “What have you done?” our answer would come quickly and surely—we have served our King. (Living Liturgy, p. 250)

Vincentian Meditation:
As you serve Christ your King, be an open door that is fully open to others, especially the poor. Be an open door to the members in your Conference, that is, be honest, truthful and simple in your relationships with one another. Be an open door to all: allow people to use you, to pass through you. Allow people to take you for granted. Be an open door by being humble. An open door does not discriminate, allowing some to pass and some not. Open the door of your heart widely to those who claim a little more understanding from you. Open the door of your heart so widely that you can belong to the truth and listen to the voice of Jesus. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.113)

Discussion: (Share thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence)
How can you become more of an “open door”?

Closing Prayer:
Let us pray to Christ our King, source of compassion and love,
– may we bring peace to all who have lost hope.
For the wisdom to listen to God’s voice,
-may we become an open door to all.
For the courage to work untiringly for peace and justice,
-may your kingdom come! Amen

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Gospel: (Mark 13:24-32)
Jesus said: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. Learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you will know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates…Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Reflection:
Conformity with Jesus’ words means that we hear the teachings of Jesus and live them out. We have to live now to create a future for ourselves that we want and that God wants for us. When we live in conformity to the Word, hearing Jesus’ words and living them out, the future holds no fear for us. Rather than fear, we anticipate our future with joyful expectation. On this second-to- last Sunday of the liturgical year, we realize that we have been faced with a choice throughout our journey during this past liturgical year: to be rooted in this world or in the words of Jesus. Our choices do make a difference. (Living Liturgy, p.246)

Vincentian Meditation:
“On the journey of life, we must make choices. Our instincts, our selfishness, our pride will often suggest to us to follow them. It is an easier road. But Christ, His Church and our consciences suggest another way. To follow that road, we must say no to our natural instincts. It may be difficult and demand much effort, but that effort will bring with it a peace and contentment that money will not buy. Do we take the easy, downhill road in every choice we make? Sometimes we need to apply the brakes to downhill movements in our lives and try to change direction and to change gears. We do that by allowing Jesus to have a greater say in our lives, in our decisions, and in our thoughts.” (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 589-90)

Discussion:

Where do we need to allow Jesus to have a greater say in our lives, in our decisions, in our thoughts, and in our choices?

Closing Prayer:
Jesus, our light,
-guide us in our decisions.
Jesus, our joy,
-guard us in our choices.
Jesus, our life,
-root us in your words. Amen

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Gospel: (Mark 12:38-44)
Taking a seat opposite the treasury, Jesus observed the crowd putting money into the collection box. Many of the wealthy put in sizable amounts; but one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins worth about a cent. He called his disciples over and told them: “I want you to observe that this poor widow contributed more than all the others who donated to the treasury. They gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her want, all that she had to live on.”

Reflection:
The widow is described as poor; she contributes “all she had.” Surprisingly, the “large sums” given by the “rich people” pale in comparison to the widow’s far greater gift of “two small coins.” She gives her all, her whole livelihood, “from her want.” It is not the size of the gift which measures its value but the depth of the self-gift from which it comes. This is the kind of giving of which Jesus takes note. The widow in the gospel is the model for the radical demand of discipleship: she gives her all. Discipleship doesn’t mean that we necessarily do big and heroic things. It does mean that we do everything and meet whatever challenges come our way with hearts set right—we give of ourselves for the good of others. (Living Liturgy, p.246)

Vincentian Meditation:
In the movie Monsieur Vincent, there is a scene where Queen Anne of Austria, is talking to Vincent towards the end of his life. She is listing some of his great achievements. He listens pensively and then mutters: “I have done nothing.” She continues to catalogue the works he has initiated and again Vincent mutters: “I have done nothing.” The Queen becomes a little impatient with him and says: “Monsieur Vincent, if you say you have done nothing, what must we do if we are to save our souls?” Monsieur Vincent slowly raises his head and with his piercing black eyes looks at the Queen and utters one word:
“More.” (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.467)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence)
What “More” can we do?

Closing Prayer:
Jesus, our guide,
-give us the generosity to give “from our want.”
Jesus, our life,
-give us loving hearts.
Jesus, our light,
-give us the grace to do “More.” Amen

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Gospel: (Matthew 5:1-9)

Jesus went up the mountain, and he began to teach them saying, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Reflection:

This solemnity of All Saints is a reminder and promise that through our baptism we already share in the glory of the saints whom we honor. The saints stand out as models who have been faithful to their baptismal commitment and give us courage and strength that we, too, can be faithful. We know some of the saints who have been canonized by name. And there are also countless other saints, our deceased relatives and friends among them, whom we also know by name. This multitude of faithful followers of Christ beckons us to hear what Jesus teaches in the gospel: “Blessed are you…” (Living Liturgy, p.240)

Vincentian Meditation:

The Beatitudes are a new scale of values. We might say that the Beatitudes are an invasion of God’s madness into the world of what humanity considers to be good sense. Have you ever tried to make a list of what you would consider your eight beatitudes? This could be very revealing and might show a very deep chasm between the values of our Lord and those by which we daily live. Do you feel comfortable with our Lord’s Beatitudes? Or has it been your experience, as it has been mine, that when you start to think or talk about one beatitude, you prefer to drop it because of its difficulty, and move on to another which you would consider more simple and easy? The beatitude that makes you feel most uncomfortable is probably the one that is most relevant to you personally. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.739)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence)

Who is your favorite “Saint” canonized formally or informally?

Closing Prayer:
May we work together to build up the kingdom of God, -Saints of God, intercede for us.
May our desire for God draw us more deeply into prayer, -Saints of God, intercede for us.
May we comfort the broken hearted in their sorrow, -Saints of God, intercede for us.
May we feed the hungry and bring mercy to the poor, -Saints of God, intercede for us.
May we be peacemakers, -Saints of God, intercede for us. Amen

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Gospel: (Mark 12: 28-34)

One of the scribes came up to Jesus, and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied: “This is the first: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! Therefore you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And this is the second, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Reflection:

In this gospel a scribe approaches Jesus with the question, one about which of the 613 Jewish precepts is greatest. Jesus gets to the heart of things, and does more that just answer the scribe’s question; he brings to explicit statement the whole underlying meaning of his ministry and what discipleship and inaugurating the kingdom of God is all about. Knowing the law and even keeping the law are not enough—what is required is whole-hearted love of God and neighbor. Jesus in addition to the commandment to love God above all else, tells his listeners to “love your neighbor as yourself.” What links our relationship to God, neighbor, and self is love. Law is not kept for its own sake; ideally, law sustains and protects relationships in a loving way. (Living Liturgy, p.242)

Vincentian Meditation:

The spiritual genius of St. Vincent, lies in the success he had in marrying the two great commandments of the law. The historian, Bremond, tells us: “It is not his love of mankind which led Vincent de Paul to sanctity, but it is rather that sanctity made him truly and efficaciously charitable. It is not the poor who gave him to God, but God who gave him to the poor.” The dynamism, the energy, the love which St. Vincent manifested to the poor did not come from any doctrinaire views on politics or sociology. The source of his energy and the clarity of his spiritual vision came from his contemplation of the words and actions of Jesus Christ in the pages of the Gospel and from his daily contact with Jesus Christ in the quietness of prayer. He became convinced that, once men and women are made new through their personal dedication to Jesus Christ, a new world will follow. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 4688)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence)

How have you found the truth that “It is not the poor who give us to God, but God who gives us to the poor.”

Closing Prayer: O Lord, teach us how to love God with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength, -and our neighbor as ourselves. Amen

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Gospel: (Mark 10:46-52)
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples, Bartimaeus, a blind man, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.

Reflection:

The dynamic between Bartimaeus and Jesus is a perfect description of what faith is: Bartimaeus heard Jesus, cried out to him, persisted in his prayer, came to Jesus when he called, and spoke boldly of his need. All these actions: hearing, crying out, coming, speaking describe our Christian discipleship. We must let our faith lead us to Jesus and then we must follow him. Without persistence in prayer it will be impossible for us to follow Jesus faithfully on the road of self–giving. The encounter with Jesus in prayer keeps our relationship with God healthy and strong. The prayer of petition reminds us that disciples can do nothing on their own without Jesus’ help. At times we are doing our faith by reaching out to those around us in need; at other times we are being our faith by taking time to let our God be present to us in prayer. (Living Liturgy, p.232)

Vincentian Meditation:

Our Lord wants us to persevere in prayer and not be discouraged because God seems slow in answering our prayers. Perhaps the reason we become discouraged in prayer is that we feel in a vague way that God is not taking us seriously. The truth is that it is not God who fails to take us seriously when we pray to Him, but rather we fail to take God seriously. Sometimes in our heart of hearts we pray without full confidence that He is going to give us what we ask. I wonder if God is slow in answering our prayers at times in order to perfect the confidence which He wishes us to have in Him who is our Father. Sometimes the reason of God’s delay in answering our prayers is that He wants to make us ready to accept what He desires to give us. (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 142-3)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts on the readings after a moment of silence)

When have you found that sometimes God seems slow in answering your prayers?

Closing Prayer: For the sick and the poor who wait for healing, -Lord, hear our prayer. For the grace to persevere in prayer and trust in God, -Lord, hear our prayer. Amen

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