A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings

What Should We Do to Attain Joy and Peace?

Jesus makes known to us his joy and his peace.  Hence, it is enough for us to go to him to get an answer to the question, “What should we do?” We can thus be full of his joy and his peace. It seems that the one who calls folks to repent and be cleansed of their sins...

Concern for Others that All Must See

Jesus is God’s concern for us in person.  So, it is right that Paul asks us Christians to let all see our concern for others.  The prophet Baruch and the prophet Isaiah proclaim God’s concern for us, though not in an express way.  For the first reading and Is 40, 1-5...

Stand before Jesus, the Son of Man

Jesus brings light to those who dwell in the dark and in the shadow of death. He gives strength to those who ask him for it. In that way, they can escape the troubles that are coming upon them and stand before him.

Accuse Those Who Are Not of the Truth

Jesus witnesses to the truth that sets us free. Those who are of the truth are forgiven of every sin they can accuse themselves of.  The Jews, who consider Jesus an enemy, bring him to the praetorium. But they do not go in, so that they may stay clean to eat the...
Strength of the Weak and Fearful

Strength of the Weak and Fearful

Jesus himself is the proof that strength, becomes perfect in weakness. Christians, then, cannot but be weak, and so, strong (2 Cor 12, 9-10). Matthew, more than the other evangelists, speaks of the words of Scriptures reaching their fulfillment in Jesus. He portrays...

Strength of the Weak and Fearful

Greatness Really Means Littleness

Although great, Jesus becomes little for our sake. As we associate, as Jesus, with the little folks, we grasp the meaning of Christmas that greatness lies in littleness. In the beginning is the Word, the Word is with God, and is God. All things come to be through him,...

Strength of the Weak and Fearful

Help from the Always Faithful and True

Jesus Christ, our Savior, is Emmanuel, “God-with-us.” In him and through him, God goes with us and gives us the help that we need. Ahaz, the king of Judah, fears the combined armies of Syria and Israel. And yet he turns down God’s offer of help, for he refuses to do...

Strength of the Weak and Fearful

Proof of Our Really Belonging to Jesus

Jesus brings the Good News to the poor and makes it come true for them. Doing as our Master, we give proof that we are his followers. Last Sunday, we heard John the Baptist rebuke those he called “brood of vipers.” He asked them to bear good fruit as proof of their...

Strength of the Weak and Fearful

Out of Cycle, the Usual, the Customary

In the person of Jesus is revealed that God’s love prevails in the end (Advent 2002). Christians, then, cannot but break out of the cycle of hopelessness. For those who have a cyclical view of time, events simply come back. Nothing new comes out of the cycle. No new...

Strength of the Weak and Fearful

Forward March towards Our Lord Jesus

Jesus Christ is the leader and perfecter of faith. Fixing our eyes on him, we go forward with firm decision to reach what lies ahead. St. Paul says that “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” The saying shows that, for him, time moves forward. That...

Strength of the Weak and Fearful

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...

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