Triplets

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest

Biographical Information about St. Vincent de Paul
Readings for Wednesday

Reading 1 Prv 30:5-9

Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163
R. Your word, O Lord, is a lamp for my feet.

Gospel Lk 9:1-6

Reflection:

Today we memorialize St. Vincent de Paul whose fame is spread, in our day, by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. I provided a short biography with the link above. There is a much more extensive portrait at the New Advent site in the Catholic Encyclopedia. The principle reason the Church so reveres him is his selfless devotion to the poor. As we said yesterday, based on words from Proverbs, the poor are the concern of all Christians – Jesus made it so.

I want to make a comment on what is know as the “Midwestern Protestant Work Ethic”. For those unfamiliar with what that means, basically it is a mind set that says; “If you work hard, you will have enough. If you don’t have enough, work harder. “ This philosophy grew up in a largely agrarian and later manufacturing society and has tended to form the view of many protestants (and Catholics through assimilation) to view the poor with condescension.

That does not mean that those who have this mind set do not help the poor, rather they do so with an attitude, spoken or unspoken, that basically says the poor are poor because the have chosen not to work hard and pull themselves out of their poverty. In other words, many who share this philosophy will give to charity, but without much sympathy. Over time, this charity is more grudgingly given and a stereotype is developed that the poor are just plain lazy and enjoy just sitting around watching TV, drinking and depending on hard working citizens to keep them in a lifestyle they must enjoy.

We, as Disciples of Christ, cannot have such a mind set. We must look to the sources of injustice and try our best to correct them. Frequently these sources are institutional in nature. There is no safety net for many of the working poor. But this will quickly digress into a political discussion and that is not what this forum is about.

Today I was more or less blown away by the Proverbs reading. It had just two “Proverbs” but they really speak to us. Have you ever run across a person who uses the Bible to justify actions that everyone knows are not acceptable? It’s like a person who takes vengeance on a person for some past injury and then quotes scripture saying; “an eye for and eye.” That sort of thing is what the first proverb talks about when it says;

“Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a
deceiver.”

By taking scripture out of context that is exactly what we see happen. The next time we run into one of those who justify hate based on scripture, pull this one out and see if that does not stop them in their tracks. Oh, but don’t expect too much. Most of the people who behave in this way are somewhat fanatical and not easily dissuaded. Do give it a try though.

The second proverb is also deep.

Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die: Put falsehood and
lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the
food I need; Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” Or, being
in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.

It reminds us that if we place all our energy into gaining material wealth, we must neglect the Lord who makes all things possible. It also says the inverse. It prays that we not be placed in straits because we may blame God and thereby commit a greater sin of blasphemy.

Good stuff today and I did not even get to the Gospel. I leave you to contemplate your response to the Lord’s call in that one.

Pax