A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings

Jesus shows us the right way to love God and our neighbor.  Those who love, as Jesus does, overcome chaos and darkness together with him. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, bringing order out of chaos and dispelling the darkness.  He brought...

Jesus has the wisdom in speaking that his adversaries will be powerless to resist or refuse. The Pharisees love it when people recognize their wisdom and call them teachers.  And they are wise, undoubtedly, as the tricky question they address to Jesus through theirs...

Jesus himself is the garment we need in order to take part in the heavenly feast.  By clothing ourselves with him, we are assured of entry into the banquet of the Kingdom. The guests come from street corners.  But even so, only one does not get to put on, to his own...

The fruit of righteousness comes through Jesus Christ for the praise and glory of God.  And those who remain in Jesus and he in them bear much fruit. God expects righteousness from his people.  In fact, God’s people prove themselves before him through the fruit of...

Jesus dies for us sinners.  That is how the God of unfathomable goodness proves his love for us as petty and stingy as we are. Our petty desires for gain, power and security hinder the revelation of truth.  And not knowing the truth leads to people’s...

Jesus teaches us to forsake the ways and thoughts of the world.  Replacing them with those of God, we become fools before the world, yet wise before God. To forsake the needy is a sure sign that one follows the ways and thoughts of the world.  And the parable of the...

Jesus calls us to repentance and forgiveness.  And we heed his call in so far as we are ready to forgive our brothers and sisters. The Gospel teaches that we are to avoid those who refuse to listen even to the community.  But the teaching is no reason not to forgive...

Christ is the reason why his followers bear the name of Christians.  They are other Christs, then, anointed to announce repentance and the kingdom of God. Jesus assures those who gather in his name and pray together that they will receive what they ask.  And it will...

Knowledge of Christ is what matters above all.  Those who know him receive in trust keys of authority to serve others faithfully and caringly. The Father, Lord of heaven and earth, gives to the childlike the knowledge he hides from those who are wise.  Peter is among...