Vincentian Spirituality

  TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  

Gospel: (Luke 13:22-30)

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved? He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough….For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.

Reflection:

Jesus’ answer to the question is couched in images: Making his way to Jerusalem—Jesus is being faithful to his own mission, by going to Jerusalem he fulfills his Father’s will even when that means he must suffer and die. 

Narrow gate—we might see Jesus himself as the gate, and we are saved by identifying ourselves with Jesus and this includes going to Jerusalem with him even when that means we, too, must die to ourselves. 

Strong enough—strength here isn’t the physical strength to push open a literal door but the spiritual strength to remain faithful to our call to discipleship and to follow Jesus to Jerusalem. 

Each day we must take up our cross, die to self, and live for the sake of others. This is how we enter the narrow gate and how we get to know Jesus intimately enough to receive salvation: we must live and act like Jesus. Becoming least is a metaphor for dying to self; this is what Jesus asks: that the first become last. (Living Liturgy, p.196)

Vincentian Meditation:

“Learning to bear the beams of God’s love, as they shine through the personality of the living Christ, is the work of our lives. His experience of suffering and dying on the Cross is there to remind us that, for one who lives in a world that is enveloped by the clouds and fog of sin, the learning process will at times be a painful one. We are called to bear the beams of God’s love in our personal lives. The events of our lives, so inscrutable, so perplexing, so painful at times, are slowly strengthening us, if we could but see them with the eyes of faith, to look steadily one day at the open face of God, Who is a consuming fire of love. We are also called to refract the beams of God’s love for the poor. We are called, not to stand immobile before the mystery of suffering that we find in so many poor, hungry, lonely, homeless, wandering people, but to break down for them through our service of them, the strong light of God’s love so that they, too, can learn to bear the beams of God’s love.” (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p. 368-9)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence)

As Vincentians, how have we been called to live and act like Jesus?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you suffered death that we might live.

You are the savior of the world.

Your death brought life to the world,

may we live no longer for ourselves but for you.

Your death brought life to the world,

may we help the poor find the beams of God’s love.

Amen.

Opening Prayer for Society Meetings:

L:  In the Name of the Father, etc.

All:  Amen.

L:  Come, Holy Spirit, live within our lives.

All:  And strengthen us by Your Love.

L:  Send forth your spirit and new life will be created.

All:  And the whole face of the earth will be renewed.

L:  Our Father, etc.

All:  Give us this day our daily bread, etc.

L:  Let us reflect on the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, recalling His unity and presence among us: “Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Silence)

All:  Lord Jesus, deepen our Vincentian spirit of friendship during this meeting and make us responsive to the Christian calling to seek and find the forgotten, the suffering, or the deprived so that we may bring them your love. Help us to be generous with our time, our possessions, and ourselves in this mission of charity. Perfect in us your love and teach us to share more fully in the Eucharistic Sacrifice offered for all.

L:  Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 

All:  Have mercy on us.

L:  Immaculate Heart of Mary, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  St. Vincent de Paul,  

All:  Pray for us.

L:  St. Louise de Marillac, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  Blessed Frederic Ozanam, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  Blessed Rosalie Rendu, 

All:  Pray for us.

L:  In the Name of the Father, etc.

All:  Amen.

Closing Prayer for Society Meetings: 

All:  Father, grant that we who are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist may realize the depth of our needs, respond more spontaneously to the suffering of others, and come to love You more deeply by service to our neighbor.

Grant us also the wisdom and strength to persevere when disappointed or distressed. May we never claim that the fruitfulness of our apostolate springs from ourselves alone. United in prayer and action, may we become a visible sign of Christ and may we give witness to His boundless love, which reaches out to all and draws them to love one another in Him.

We thank You, Lord, for the many blessings which we receive from those whom we visit. Help us to love and respect them, to understand their deeper needs, and to share their burdens and joys as true friends in Christ.

L: That the Cause for the Canonization of Frederic Ozanam, who excelled in the virtue of Christian love, be advanced.

All: Lord, hear us.

L: That our departed friends and relatives, our Vincentian Brothers and Sisters, and those whom we have served, be welcomed into your Kingdom and joined in love.

All:  Lord, hear us.

L: In the Name of the Father, etc.

All:  Amen.