Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest

Proper readings for the Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul 

Biographical information about St. Vincent de Paul

“St. Vincent de Paul”
artist and date are unknown

 
Readings for Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time [1]
 
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [2]
 
Readings and Commentary: [3]
 
Reading 1: Zechariah 8:1-8
 
This word of the LORD of hosts came:
 
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
 
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.
 
Thus says the LORD of hosts:  Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.
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Commentary on Zec 8:1-8
 
The Prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of Ezra and Haggai.  In these first five of the ten prophecies found in Zechariah, there are a series of pronouncements about what God wants from his scattered people (not just the Babylonian exiles but all the Jewish people).  The prophet issues God’s call to the people to come back from exile to Zion. He calls the future Jerusalem a faithful city, one of great importance to the faith: a holy mountain, a high place, dedicated to God where he resides in a special way.  He issues God’s call for the people to return in faith, that the city might be reborn in greatness.  We may see it as a call to conversion, a return to a more steadfast faith in the New Jerusalem – Christ’s Kingdom.
 
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
 
R. (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
 
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
 
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
 
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
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Commentary on Ps 102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
 
Psalm 102 is an individual lament. In these strophes, we find the cry of the people in the desert once more being directed to the Lord. The psalmist, expressing trust in the mercy of God asks for a release from suffering and bondage for the people (“The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die”). The singer gives us a prayer of thanksgiving for the restoration of the people to Israel after the Diaspora. God brought them back from their captivity and reestablished them in Zion. The prayer prefigures God’s salvation offered in the New Jerusalem – God’s heavenly kingdom.
 
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Gospel: Luke 9:46-50
 
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
 
Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
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Commentary on Lk 9:46-50
 
St. Luke depicts a teaching moment for Jesus as he tells his disciples that they must not fall into the all-too-human trap of rivalry for leadership. Rather, he tells them that humble leadership will be the norm. In the second instance, the Lord insists that his disciples accept support from those whom they do not know (see also comments on Mark 9:38-50).
 
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Reflection:
 
Kneeling before the tabernacle, I can think of only one thing to say to our Lord: "My God, you know that I love You." And I feel that my prayer does not weary Jesus; knowing my weakness, He is satisfied with my good will. -Saint Therese of Lisieux
 
How do we understand the word of God when we read the Gospel of St. Luke and listen to those words with our hearts: “For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest”? There are some contemporary examples we could point to for meaning.  None, however, are more eloquent than the attitude expressed by St. Thérèse, the Little Flower of Jesus who was quoted at the beginning of this entry.
 
The simple faith captured in that one piercing prayer “My God, you know that I love You.” says volumes and when it comes from the heart it drives our actions to imitate those of Christ.  His whole mission was to give exactly that message from God to us “My children, you know that I love you.”
 
In essence, this is a call to conversion of heart; much the same as Zechariah’s call to the Hebrew people to return to Jerusalem to build up God’s city.  For what is the New Jerusalem but a city of love?
 
The Lord was telling his disciples that when their intent was unselfish, their actions directed at loving God, then their leadership would be genuine and the outcome pleasing to the Father whose love is expressed perfectly in Jesus.  It is such a simple concept that, like them, we often “overthink” it.  We get caught up in the complexity of human interaction, trying to detect motives and appeal to agendas.  Our expression of that prayer, “My God, you know that I love You,” in our every action will accomplish what God intends.
 
Pax

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[1] The picture is “St. Vincent de Paul” artist and date are unknown.
[2] S.S Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.