Jesus is the light of the world.  Hence, to follow him means to be far from the dark and to have the light of life. 

“The enterprising Vincent” is still far from being of the blessed poor.  For it seems self-suffciency is a trait of his.

That is, he does not seem to count on God much; he counts on God so that God may be on “his side and at his service.”  Hence, the priest who is about thirty years old lacks true piety.  For he does not go to God to know and carry out God’s will.  We can say that this enterprising one is still far from the light.

Yet the dark night passes in due time.  The dark melts away, goes far.  And this takes place when Vincent vows to consecrate the rest of his life to those who are poor (Delarue).

In the end, then, the priest accepts that he is of the poor; he will no longer try to leave them behind.  For, yes, to be near them means to be far from the dark.

Consecrated to them, Vincent finds the true worship they give to God (SV.EN XI:190; SV.EN XII:142).  The true worship that the Father hides from the wise and shows to the simple folks. For he chooses the foolish and the weak to shame the wise and the strong.

To be far from the dark means to study in The School of the Poor. 

Indeed, there is much to learn from those who are poor.  They teach us to make our real poverty take root in our spirit so that we wholly trust God.  To make sure that it is part of our being, thinking, feeling and acting.

Hence, to be poor in spirit does not have to do with watering down what Jesus teaches.  To suit the wealthy who make money at the expense of the poor.  In fact, what he teaches does not go along with situations of injustice.  Rather, it drives us to change such situations.  For blessed are the folks, not their situations.

So then, the beatitudes demand that we consecrate our lives to bring about the new order of things.  To work with Jesus so that God’s kingdom come.  So that God’s will be done on earth as in heaven.

Lord Jesus, grant that we love God with our whole selves.  And others, in particular, those who are poor, as ourselves, to the point of giving up our bodies and shedding our blood.  We shall thus be far from the dark, but rather, bathed in your light.  And we shall also get to proclaim your peace, bring your good news and announce your justice.  Make our light shine bright as we do works of justice and love (Is 58, 8; Mt 5, 16).

27 September 2025
Solemnity of St. Vincent de Paul
Is 52, 7-10; 1 Cor 1, 26-31; Mt 5, 1-12a