A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings

Distinctive Mark of Christ’s Disciples

Jesus is the proof that God loves us.  Sent by God, he teaches us to love.  He makes love the Christians’ distinctive mark and the means of salvation. Judas leaves so as to carry out fully the betrayal.  And this treasonous leave is a distinctive sign that Jesus’ hour...

Mind and Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus and the Father are one and of one mind and heart.  And to be a Christian means to have Christ’s mind and heart. Jesus walks about in the temple area on Solomon’s Porch or Colonnade.  It is a place many people go to, especially in winter.  For there, due to a...

Burden and Sorrow of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus is God-with-us.  He stays with us all along the way that we travel.  He finds bearable the burden that we turn out to be. The disciples cannot haul in the net due to the huge number of fish caught in it.  But surely, it is a burden that makes the fishermen...

Palpable, Touchable, Visible, True

Jesus makes palpable God, whom no one has seen or touched.  True disciples do not rest till their Teacher is palpable to them. Jesus knows that when he shows up risen, his disciples will think they see a ghost.  They will want him to be palpable.  That is why he has...
Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Discern and Welcome Christ’s Kingship

Jesus has come to serve and give his life as a ransom for all. Those who belong to him discern and welcome his kingship. The inscription on the cross proclaims Jesus as the king of the Jews. And it is the truth: he is the king of the Jews and of the universe. But who...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Overcome through Him Who Loves Us

Christ Jesus fully reveals the love of God. And since no one and nothing at all can separate us from this love, we more than overcome. Does not the reality or possibility of natural disasters and social unrests frighten us? Do we, then, not wonder if we could save our...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Alive by God’s Love in Christ Jesus

Jesus is the last and surest proof that God loves us. Because of this love, God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; all are alive for him. The Sadducees deny that there is a resurrection or that the dead can be alive again because of it. So, with their...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Call to Repentance and Salvation

The Son of Man has come to seek out and save sinners. We can answer him because he is the first to call us to repentance and salvation. Zacchaeus badly wants to see who Jesus is. Never mind that he is short. Wouldn’t it be sad if those who call out to say Jesus is...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Crown of Glory, Crown of Thorns

Jesus wears the crown of glory because he first wore the crown of thorns. He proves true the teaching that God lifts up the lowly. The crown of glory that will never fade awaits the faithful shepherds of God’s flock (1 Pt 5, 1-4). But it will be theirs only when the...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Cry out to God Always and Not Lose Heart

Jesus, “a man of the greatest prayer” (SV.EN IX:326), pleads with God for us always. And his blood cries out to him more loudly than that of Abel. Surely, God brings justice without delay to those who cry out with faith as Jesus. The Gospel this Sunday tells us that...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Thankful for Healing and Salvation

Jesus is the last revelation of divine salvation to Israel and the nations. It is right, then, that all show themselves thankful to him always and everywhere. Nine of the ten lepers that Jesus has healed do not show that they are thankful. For only a Samaritan, who...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Increase Faith and Stir It into Flame

Jesus Christ is the leader and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12, 2). It is right, then, that we ask him to increase always our faith. Faith is a divine gift (Rom 12, 3; Phil 1, 29; 2 Pt 1, 1). That is, God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit gives it to us. We ask it, then, from...

Cries of Those Who Are Poor for Justice

Care and Concern for Those in Need

Jesus fulfills the law and the prophets. He teaches us by words and deeds to care for the poor, their misery making us ill. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus teaches us to care for those who are poor. Though we can safely say that the helpless beggar is resigned...

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