A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings
Throne of Grace, Goodness and Mercy
Jesus endured the cross and now sits at the right of the throne of God. We will reign with him if we persevere with...
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...
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...
New undoubtedly and completely
Changing water into wine, Jesus is manifested as the Author and Perfecter of the new thing prophesied in Is 43, 19: “See, I am doing something new.” Jesus makes use of “six stone water jars … for Jewish ceremonial washings.” Could this be another way of saying that he...
Solidarity with Jesus and our neighbor
By being in solidarity with us, Jesus equips us for solidarity that will lead us to accept those we find difficult to accept. All the people come to John to be baptized. In solidarity with them, Jesus, without knowing any sin, submits humbly and prayerfully to the...
Seek earnestly the light of the nations
God reveals himself to the Gentiles who seek him with all their heart. He offers them the opportunity to be “coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.” The Magi, wise for knowing how to recognize humbly that...
Gaze that brings life and makes holy
God’s gaze is on the lowly. He wants to turn slaves into adopted children. But how do those favored with God’s glance prove themselves? Possessing a penetrating gaze, God bypasses someone with an impressive appearance. He takes from the pasture the youngest, the last,...
Family of an unusual love
God wants us, who belong to his family now, to love to the end. Interestingly, bêt’āb in Hebrew, literally “the father’s house,” is translated too as “family,” which indicates the patriarchal character of the Hebrew family. But, of course, there is in God no male...
Savior and Messiah and Lord of all
The Savior comes with a great light to save us in an unexpected way. Now appears the grace of God. Though he may dictate to the whole world, Caesar Augustus does not save, nor does governor Quirinius, an opportunist among many, not even king David, who gives renown to...
Blessing for those who believe in Jesus
Jesus is the only blessing we need. He becomes our blessing, our consecration, by doing God’s will to the end. Elizabeth blesses Mary. For this, she does not depend on either Zechariah’s priesthood or his maleness. He hardly figures in the scene dominated by two women...
Expectation that’s joyful and comforting
Rejoice in the Lord always (Phil 4, 4) Jesus is the Good News announced by his forerunner. Do we announce what John does? It is not himself that he preaches. He proclaims what Jesus will proclaim later: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Such proclamation...
Word that is astounding and fruitful
Second Sunday of Advent (C), December 6, 2015 – Bar 5, 1-9; Phil 1, 4-6. 8-11; Lk 3, 1-6 Filled with the fruit of righteousness (Phil 1, 11) The Word of God is not chained. No one, nothing, hinders it. It is astoundingly effective. The word of God comes to John while...