Category: Uncategorized

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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 16^th 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 19^th 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

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Gospel: Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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This story does not end well for King Herod.

He’s already made a series of horrible choices, including the beheading of John the Baptist, a decision he made while he was drunk at a party.

But we’ve captured Herod at an interesting point in his spiritual journey; he’s still “perplexed” – haunted – by John. 

Even after John’s death, the Gospel tells us, “Herod kept trying to see him.” Herod enjoyed listening to John, and was intrigued by his message of repentance and the coming of God’s kingdom.

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Herod represents where some in our world are at today in their spiritual journey.

Thankfully, few are as deranged as he was. But many are “perplexed” by the Gospel message; they’re interested, but undecided. 

Faith can seem risky; difficult; life-changing. 

Just consider the ramifications faith would’ve brought into Herod’s life. For starters, he would have had to stop living with his brother’s wife and repent for the murder of an innocent man!

Then he’d have to learn the path of surrender, inching himself closer to the heart of God, day after day, as we all must.

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Like John the Baptist, how do we encourage the “Herods,” the seekers, of this world? And, like John, how has my own life changed because of faith?

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May we be emboldened by the life and ministry of John the Baptist, who was never afraid to speak the truth with love, even at great personal cost. 

It’s just what Christians do.

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Image credits: (1) Doubter’s Parish, WordPress (2) Herod the Great, History Skills (3) The Americanization of Religion, NYTimes

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Gospel: Luke 9: 1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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There’s an old saying, “There are two sides to every story.”

Such is the case in today’s Gospel. On one hand, Jesus sends his disciples out to preach and to cure with the added instruction, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.”

On the surface, it seems like the Lord is stripping his disciples bare, as if they must fend for themselves in a cold, harsh world of the Lord’s own making. But that isn’t the case.

Rather, the Lord is building upon a Jewish tradition, which all of the Apostles would’ve understood. 

In ancient Israel, it was customary for a person to part with their walking staff, shoes, money belt, and to cleanse the dust from their feet before entering the Temple to pray. 

Both physically and spiritually, a person would part with all of their worldly cares and possessions before addressing God, who always comes first. After leaving the Temple, a person would gather their belongings before re-entering the world.

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By instructing his disciples to part with all of their belongings before preaching and healing, Jesus is telling them to treat the entire world – including every person they meet – as if it is within Temple.

Meaning everything and everyone is holy, a type of dwelling place for God.

As Christians, we’re called to maintain that same type of attitude, treating all as if we are another Christ.

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The other side of the story is this: if the disciples are going out without a thing to their name, then they’ll need the good will and support of their brothers and sisters along the way.

While the Gospel should be preached free of charge, it is also an honor to care for those who share it, which is why the Church emphasizes the need for charity.

This is particularly true of supporting religious orders like Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, who keep nothing but the Word of God, otherwise depending entirely on the support of others.

Perhaps this is what the Lord is asking of us today: to see the world as holy; to care for the poor; and to support those who preach the Gospel – not only in word but with their very lives.

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Image credits: (1) Encouraging.com (2) The Well Community Church (3) Good and Godly DNA with LA, WordPress