A Vincentian reading of the Sunday readings

Flame of Blazing and Renewing Fire

Jesus is Lord! But we can say this only by the Holy Spirit. And only his flame can renew the face of the earth. The Holy Spirit comes with the strength of a driving wind that fills the whole house where the disciples are. And a tongue of fire or flame rests on each of...

Raise the Poor and the Helpless

Jesus has gone up heaven. And from his throne he looks down on earth to lift up the helpless from the dust and raise the poor from the dump (Ps 113, 6-7). Jesus tells his followers to wait for the Holy Spirit. And they quickly ask if it is time for him to raise up...

Defender, One in Three, of the Helpless

Just like his Father, Jesus gives justice to those in need and defends the rights of the poor. Still and all, he gets them another Defender. Jesus lifts up his own. They are sad as he says goodbye. And they have the hunch that woe is coming. Is it time to strike the...

Show Jesus so as to Show the Father

Jesus reveals the Father. We Christians must be like him to show him and the Father. The followers of Jesus show worry. For he tells them that one of them will betray him. And another, who says he will die for him, will deny him. Besides, they recently heard him speak...

Inventive to infinity

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), August 17, 2014 – Is 56, 1. 6-7; Rom 11, 13-15. 29-32; Mt 15, 21-28 Rejection leading to reconciliation (Rom 11, 15) Even a terrible situation serves the purposes of God, who wants us to be optimistic and inventive too. The...

Harrowing of hell

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), August 10, 2014 – 1 Kgs 19, 9a. 11-13a; Rom 9, 1-5; Mt 14, 22-33 Accursed for the sake of my own people (Rom 9, 3) God makes use of both the storm and the calm. What is important, regardless of the means used, is to get to know...

Where nobody is a throw-away

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), August 3, 2014 – Is 55, 1-3; Rom 8, 35. 37-39; Mt 14, 13-21 The love of God in Christ Jesus (Rom 8, 39) Jesus sets a table before us in the sight of our foes. He wants us to have our fill of God’s goodness, to know more...

Church treasure recovered!

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), July 27, 2014 – 1 Kgs 3, 5. 7-12; Rom 8, 28-30; Mt 13, 44-52 To be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom 8, 29) The wisest and most intelligent thing we can do is to seek the kingdom of God. That is because this kingdom...

More caught than taught

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), July 20, 2014 – Wis 12, 13. 16-19; Rom 8, 26-27; Mt 13, 24-43 The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness (Rom 8, 26) The perfection of God is the source of his disinterested generosity, his lenient patience and his sharp vision....

External seminary

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), July 13, 2014 – Is 55, 10-11; Rom 8, 18-23; Mt 13, 1-23 As we wait for redemption (Rom 8, 23) Jesus is the divine Word. Attuned to him and remaining in him, we will bear much fruit. God spoke through the prophets. He now speaks...

Selling-point

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), July 6, 2014 – Zech 9, 9-10; Rom 8, 9. 11-13; Mt 11, 25-30 Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him (Rom 8, 9) We are invited to a relaxing and renewing life together. And we can approach without...

Right on target?

Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 2014 – Acts 12, 1-11; 2 Tim 4, 6-8. 17-18; Mt 16, 13-19 To him be glory forever and ever! (2 Tim 4, 18) We get it right if we confess that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. But just like the one who got it right first, we...

Depoliticizing “E pluribus unum”

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (A), June 22, 2014 – Dt 8, 2-3. 14b-16a; 1 Cor 10, 16-17; Jn 6, 51-58 The loaf of bread is one, so we are one body (1 Cor 10, 17) God feeds us while we pilgrims march through the desert toward the lasting city. Unless we are...

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