A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings

Abode of Prayer and Hope for All

Jesus makes his abode among us.  He is the house of prayer and hope for all peoples.  And he fulfills God’s promise to David. David plans to build a house that will be the Lord’s abode.  The Lord answers and reminds him of the great things that he has done for him....

Disappointment Due to Our Biases

Jesus is the Christ.  To know him so makes us acknowledge that we are not worthy of him and spares us, too, of all disappointment. Those who come from Jerusalem do not receive John’s baptism; they are there to grill him and judge him.  The priests and the Levites...

Beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ

Jesus is the beginning and the end, and the source and the summit of the Good News.  That is why we point to him by our words and deeds. Mark presents the beginning of the Good News.  But right away he speaks of Isaiah and John.  The last fulfills the prophecy about a...

Watch, Stay Awake, for Jesus Is Coming

Jesus is coming, but we do not know when.  So, we have to watch. It seems odd that we are to look to the end at the beginning of the liturgical year.  For we are urged to watch and wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will come, yes, but we do not know...
Hear, the Lord our God is Lord Alone

Glory and new life through love

Jesus reveals to us the way of love that leads to glory and the new life. Judas leaves to carry out fully his betrayal.  It is night, which does not mean that the light no longer shines in the darkness. Divine glory still shines brightly.  Jesus speaks of it to his...

Hear, the Lord our God is Lord Alone

Chief and eternal Shepherd of the flock

Jesus is a Shepherd who cares and protects; we fear no evil even when we walk through dark valleys. Jesus and the one who has sent him to be Shepherd of the whole flock are one.  The Shepherd’s success depends on this union. The intimacy between the Father and Jesus...

Naked in the presence of Jesus

Jesus alone clothes the naked and fills those who are empty by sharing with them his mission to clothe the naked and fill those who hunger and thirst for justice and mercy. Peter, who is fishing naked—do those who have fishing as their occupation work naked...

Hear, the Lord our God is Lord Alone

Faith working through love

Jesus wants us to have a faith that is firm as a rock and immense as the sea. This faith, made alive by love, prompts Mary of Magdala to go to Jesus’ tomb at the first opportunity.  Due to the same faith, this female disciple stays outside the tomb weeping, after...

Hear, the Lord our God is Lord Alone

Courage! Jesus leads us

Leading fearful disciples, who are also slow to understand, Jesus heads towards Jerusalem to face with courage his painful fate. Courage does not mean not agonizing at the specter of suffering and death. Jesus is in such agony that his sweat becomes “like drops of...

Hear, the Lord our God is Lord Alone

Banquet for the holy and not so holy

Jesus invites even sinners to the banquet of the kingdom. The strict practitioners of religion complain once again that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. They probably deride him, whispering to each other, “You cannot take him to any banquet.” But again, too,...

Hear, the Lord our God is Lord Alone

Repentance: believing and living the Gospel

Our merciful Lord listens to sinners who cry out to him. He takes no pleasure in their death, but in their repentance, so that they may live and bear much fruit. Jesus makes it clear that we are all in need of repentance. He warns that if we do not repent, we will...

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