Jesus is always in his Church. Yes, he is in the midst of those who gather together in his name by the initiative of...
A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings
Deny Themselves, Bear Their Own Cross, Follow Christ
Jesus is all things to all. He leads those who live for others and deny themselves. For they do not seek their own...
All Things to All so as to Save All
Jesus is the Teacher who shows us by words and by works what it means to become all things to all for the sake of God’s kingdom.
Guilt and Hope that We All Share
Jesus is the Good News of salvation. He calls us who have sinned—and no one of us is free of guilt—to return to God. So, there is hope for us. In the face of evils, like war crimes, many wonder, “Where is God.” As though the guilt were his. Why does he allow...
Prayers and Changes for Good
Christ is always before the Father in prayer. And it is while he prays that the appearance of his face changes and his clothing turns dazzling white. Prayers make for good changes. In a forum in which exchange of ideas took place, a comment spoke of prayers as...
Lure of Power, Wealth and Glory
Jesus wears the crown of glory since he rejected the devil’s lure and suffered death. The Crucified is model of true grit; we fix our gaze on him. The Holy Spirit who came down on Jesus in the Jordan now leads him to the desert. There, the one who embodies the truth...
Lies, Darkness and Polarizations
Jesus is the light of the world. To follow him means not to walk in the dark, in lies, but to have the light of life, the truth. Jesus warns his hearers about blindness and the darkness that comes with it. It is, of course, about spiritual blindness, about not...
Heavenly as Our Father Who Is in Heaven
Jesus, the second man is from heaven. He bids us to be one with him, so that we who are of the earth may become heavenly also. We heard last Sunday that Jesus looked at his disciples and then announced the blessings and the woes. Did he mean to say that he wanted...
Curses that Turn Out to Be Blessings
Jesus became a curse to free us from curses and fill us with blessings. He became sinner and poor to make us just and rich. Those who are to catch men and women have much to learn still. And today the one who has called them teaches them about curses and blessings....
Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All
Jesus is the leading fisher of men and women. Those he calls are also, though sinners, to be fishers of other sinners. Jesus tells Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” And Simon answers, “Teacher, we have worked hard all night and have...
Lover of Sinners and Outcast
Jesus is a lover of those whom religion and society shun: sinners, widows, orphans and strangers. They are dear to true Christians too. It seems the leaving out of “vengeance,” when Jesus read Is 61, 1-2, did not bother his fellow Nazareth citizens. For they still...
Program of the One Anointed with the Spirit
Jesus is Good News to the poor. To be such news is his program as the One that the Father has anointed with the Holy Spirt and sent. True to what the voice from heaven told him at his baptism, the Son takes up the Servant’s program. We heard two Sundays ago that...
