A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings

Obsess about Having Money and Security

Jesus teaches by word and deed that we cannot serve God and money.  Hence, to obsess about making money is to reject his teaching. The man who draws to Jesus seems to obsess about being saved.  For he runs up to him and quickly kneels down.  Of course, he also...

Delight Others, and Not Ourselves

The wisdom of God made flesh dwells with us.  He is delighted to be with us.  But he wants, first of all, to delight us. The scribes and the Pharisees time and again test Jesus.  At best, they seek to connect with him.  At worse, they set a snare for his steps.  But...

Constitutive, Indispensable, Crucial

Jesus is constitutive of the Christian community.  Do we say and live this as St. Vincent? Moises makes clear what truly matters.  Jesus does so too.  For the two of them, it is not about us.  Or the group that we make up, chosen and gifted so as to serve others. ...

Zealous for the House, the Kingdom, of God

Jesus burns with zeal for the house, for the kingdom, of God.  Needless to say, the disciples are to be as zealous as their Teacher. John and Joshua show that they are zealous.  John’s zeal is for those to whom Jesus has given the power to drive out demons.  And...
Gifts of Christ Who Has Gone up to Heaven

Unexpected and Glorious Outcome

God does not leave Jesus among the dead.  Nor does he let the one faithful to him till death know decay.  This is wonderful in our eyes, unexpected. Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus’ tomb and runs into something unexpected.  That is because she sees the tomb open. ...

Gifts of Christ Who Has Gone up to Heaven

Arms Outstretched, Brow Sweating Blood

Jesus loves us with the strength of his arms and the sweat of his brow.  He dies for us so that we may no longer live for ourselves but for him and others. Loving us to the end, Jesus lays down his life for us.  That is how we come to know love.  It is not a matter of...

Gifts of Christ Who Has Gone up to Heaven

Everyone, No Matter One’s Nationality

Lifted up from the earth, Jesus draws everyone to himself.  He wants us to die with him on the cross, so that we may have eternal life. One can safely say that everyone looks for self-fulfillment.  We may not be able to define it or specify the right means of...

Gifts of Christ Who Has Gone up to Heaven

Temple Means Basically “God-With-Us”

Jesus is the only temple that matters.  He is “God-with-us,” the fullest presence of God among human beings. Jesus feels outrage when he finds in the temple area sellers of animals and money-changers.  They probably think they foster worship of God.  But Jesus...

Gifts of Christ Who Has Gone up to Heaven

Charity that Is Tender and Inclusive

Jesus gives us an example of tender and inclusive charity.  Our Teacher and Lord wants such charity to be the badge that identifies his disciples. The cure of a leper reveals clearly the charity of Jesus, the love that binds him to those who suffer.  He is moved with...

Gifts of Christ Who Has Gone up to Heaven

Serving God Means Serving our Neighbor

Jesus indicates that serving God is serving the neighbor.  To help the needy, then, is part and parcel of the religion of his followers. Jesus teaches in the synagogue and amazes the people.  And by serving a needy person, he amazes them even more.  That is because he...

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