Jesus is the sign of contradiction. He brings to light what we harbor in our hearts. He cannot but dare us to be...
A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings
Doubt the Quick “Yes” that We Say
Jesus is the firstborn from among those who do what is true and come to the light, so that there is no doubt that...
Commit to the Poor of Flesh and Blood
Jesus goes about doing good; he loves in deed and truth. He does not just commit to an ideology. St. Vincent is like...
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...
Traditions, Customs, and Habits
Jesus makes all things new. Hence, he questions traditions and customs, most of all, those that veil his true face. Jesus and his disciples are at a wedding. There too is his mother. And the wedding, no doubt, follows the traditions and customs of the Jews. But as...
Baptize with the Holy Spirit and Fire
Jesus is the one the Father has anointed with the Holy Spirit. Hence, he cannot but baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, and do good. The baptized are to do the same. John the Baptist is simple and humble. He does not want to let down those he has baptized or...
Manifestations, Revelations, Apparitions
Jesus is the best and the fullest of God’s manifestations to us humans. It is enough to see and know him to see and know God. The word “epiphany” comes Greek and means “manifestation,” “revelation,” “apparition.” And there are manifestations and manifestations. ...
Claims that Are Sacrilegious and Outrageous
Jesus is our Savior. He saves us from sin and frees us from those with sacrilegious claims. And he gives us his Holy Name. Jesus is born in Bethlehem. And shepherds visit him, the ones that we deem the least to make claims to greatness. But God makes known to them...
Keep Jesus Christ in Our Hearts
Jesus is the Son of God and the Brother of all men and women. To belong to his family means to keep in the heart his teaching. Twelve-year old Jesus sits in the midst of the teachers. He listens and asks them questions; all who hear him are amazed. No doubt, it is...
Find Jesus Christ on the Outskirts
Jesus is born on the outskirts of Bethlehem, in a shelter for animals in bad weather. There, yes, is where to find and touch him, and be touched by him. “Poignant and powerful, this is a real song, maybe just too real for some tastes.” It is one of the many comments...
Visits that Are Christian, Marian, Vincentian
Jesus is the fullness of God’s visits to us humans to save us. The visits we pay to our neighbor should be like Jesus’. Mary is besides herself after the angel Gabriel’s visit. That is to say, she cannot keep her joy to herself. So, she goes in haste, since she has...
