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Ecclesiastes: 3:1-11
There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every thing under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
What advantage has the worker from his toil?
I have considered the task that God has appointed
for the sons of men to be busied about.
He has made everything appropriate to its time,
and has put the timeless into their hearts,
without man’s ever discovering,
from beginning to end, the work which God has done.
The Word of the Lord.
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Today we celebrate the life of Saint Vincent de Paul, who served the poorest of the poor, much like Mother Teresa, a modern-day Saint.
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Vincent came from very humble means, born into a peasant family in the French countryside in the 16th century. As a young man, he was kidnapped at sea, spending two years of his life as a slave.
After evading his captors, Vincent returned to France, where he was ordained a priest and began his mission of providing for the poor. The demands for his charity became so great that he started an order for priests and nuns known as the Vincentians.
Almost 400 years later to the day, the Vincentians remain active, serving in both the Western United States and in Kenya. In the 19th century, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was founded with a similar mission, which includes the work of lay people.
Today there are over 800,000 active members in this Society in over 150 countries, continuing the work Vincent began: serving in soup kitchens, offering disaster relief, job training, medical services, prison re-entry programs, and so on.
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In doing this good work, each member follows the path of Vincent, a path that leads from poverty to greatness; from service to eternal life.
As our first reading reminds us, “There is an appointed time for everything.”
A time to pray, and a time to serve. A time to build upon the example of those who’ve gone before us.
After spending a few quiet moments with the Lord today, how might we go out and be of service to our neighbor?
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Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
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Image credits: (1) A-Z Quotes (2) Catholic News Agency (3) mittonmusings