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...
Pour out God’s Love into Hearts

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...

Pour out God’s Love into Hearts

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...

Pour out God’s Love into Hearts

Authority among Followers of Christ

Jesus teaches with astonishing authority.  He expects those he has sent to proclaim the Gospel to every creature to carry out their mission with authority. Jesus does not teach as the scribes.  These serve as official interpreters of the law and the prophets. ...

Pour out God’s Love into Hearts

Change of Mind, Heart and Behavior

Jesus embodies the change of mind, heart and behavior that the Gospel entails.  The kingdom of God belongs to those who conform to this change and clothe themselves with Jesus. With the arrest of John the Baptist, a painful change enters his life.  But God does not...

Pour out God’s Love into Hearts

Authentic Face of God and Religion

Jesus reveals the invisible God.  Jesus’ true brothers and sisters, then, cannot but reveal the authentic face of God and religion. The Only-Begotten Son is the exact image of the invisible God who dwells in unapproachable light.  He lives eternally and intimately...

Pour out God’s Love into Hearts

Hope of Israel and of all Nations

Jesus is the hope of Israel and of all nations.  Those who trust in him and welcome him rise.  They fall, on the other hand, those who distrust and reject him. Joseph and Mary are devout Jews.  That is why they come with the child Jesus to the temple to...