Jesus makes known what it means to love God and the neighbor not in word and speech, but in deed and truth.

Vincent de Paul is ordained priest, which suggests, of course, that he says “yes” to God.  In other words, he means to love God and neighbor, and to serve them.

Yet Vincent does not do what God asks.  For he does not seek God’s or the neighbor’ good but his own good.  That is, the priest strives to get a “suitable benefice” and, thus, an “honorable retirement” (SV.EN I:13).

And it is not that the one who seeks his own good does not see his need for God.  Or does not believe in him.  In fact, he hopes that God will help him get an “honorable retirement” (SV.EN I:15).

Still and all, he hopes that grace will do what he wants.  He does not care to find out beforehand what God wants or does not want.  Hence, as he calls on God, he asks that his own will be done and not God’s will.

But, yes, Vincent gets to change his mind and to exercise Jesus Christ’s two great virtues:  reverence toward his Father and charity toward others (SV.EN VI:413).  He gets to love God and neighbor.  And as he repents, he sees that he is the poorest of all (Hugh F. O’Donnell, C.M., “Vincent de Paul: His Life and Way,” Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac: Rules, Conferences, and Writings, ed. Frances Ryan, D.C., and John E. Rybolt, C.M. [Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 1995] 17-18).  He admits he is not worthy.

That is why he welcomes the beatitudes and announces to the poor that God reigns.  Being the poorest, weakest, dumbest and most sinful of all, he wholly clings to God.  And he relies on God’s wealth, strength, wisdom and grace.  He accepts, too, that God’s way is fair as he forgives sinners.

Lord Jesus, grant us to love God and our neighbor with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brows (SV.EN XI:32).  And not to be with those who gripe that you eat with sinners.  Nor with those who think they are just and scorn others.  Make sure rather that we are with the poor folks who keep the true religion and do not seek all comforts (SV.EN XI:190).  And give us the grace to look out for others’ interests to the point of giving up our bodies and shedding our blood.  And do not let us look out just for our own interests.

27 September 2026
26th Sunday in O.T. (A)
Ez 18, 25-28; Phil 2, 1-11; Mt 21, 28-32

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