A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings

Enlighten and Glorify Men and Women

Jesus has come to enlighten the Gentiles and to give glory to Israel (Lk 2, 32).  Hence, he cannot but draw all to himself. Scholars say that the accounts of Matthew, Mark and Luke show Jesus as the Suffering Servant. In John, on the other hand, Jesus is kingly and...

Crucified Jesus: Despair and Hope; Death and Life

Jesus, crucified for the wicked is the best proof that God loves us (Rom 5, 8).  It is enough for us to gaze on him to believe and live forever. It seems odd to me that the serpent that brings death is the sign of healing (Num 21, 4-9).  But Jesus goes along with the...

Hallow, Honor the Temple of the Lord

Jesus is the final temple that we must hallow.  For through him, God is in the midst of the people in the best way that no one can surpass. Zeal for God’s house gets the better of Jesus.  That is why he is mad at the merchants and money changers in the temple area. ...

Walk before the Lord with Faith

Jesus gives us a model to follow so that we may do what he does.  We only need to walk with him to learn to walk before the Lord. One can guess that Abraham cannot help to walk sometimes with nearby peoples.  It would be odd, then, if he does not know that they make...
Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Credible witnesses of the Gospel

Jesus has the credible words of eternal life.  We believe in him.  Are we credible? Those who hear Jesus proclaim the Good News are amazed at his credible words of grace.  He teaches with authority. He wants us to be credible also.  The phrase “in pairs” indicates...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Disciples to the bitter end

Jesus is the good Teacher.  He invites us to be his disciples. Jesus is resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem with his disciples.  There, he will suffer greatly and die on the cross.  The specter of a violent death does not make him turn back. Much less does...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Hidden still is Jesus’ messiahship

Jesus is God’s Christ.  His being so remains hidden, however, from those who lack compassion. Jesus backtracks.  He keeps hidden once again his being the Messiah no sooner than he has revealed it through Peter’s confession of faith.  The Teacher directs his disciples...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Shocking without any doubt

Jesus, the embodiment of God’s shocking forgiveness, provides us with the opportunity to love with abandon. It is shocking to Simon the Pharisee that his guest lets a notorious sinful woman approach him.  He doubts, therefore, that Jesus is a prophet. Simon and the...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Troubled unto a troubling death

Human misery leaves Jesus troubled, and he seeks that other people’s miseries leave us likewise troubled. The disciples and a large crowd accompany Jesus to Nain.  A large crowd from Nain is with a widow at her only son’s funeral procession.  The stage is set for a...

Fishers of Men and Women, Sinners All

Surprises and more surprises

Jesus does not cease to surprise.  He uses surprises to teach us everything, through the Holy Spirit, and to guide us to all truth. What a surprise of surprises surely for the disciples to see their Teacher alive after his crucifixion and burial!  His entry into the...

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