Vincentian Spirituality

  TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “…Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’…

In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

Reflection:

In this gospel, Jesus lays out the demands of following him, the great cost of discipleship. Why is the cost of discipleship so high that we must even give up our lives? Because we follow Jesus, who gave his life. We must carry our cross, and this means the daily discipline of self-sacrifice for the sake of others. We must also renounce all our possessions, which means letting go of anything or conduct that causes us to question discipleship or swerve us from the path of following Jesus. 

In human situations we calculate the cost of finishing a difficult or expensive task. So also, Jesus helps us calculate the cost of discipleship—it demands everything we are and everything we have. Jesus intends no surprises for those who choose discipleship; here’s the fine print: we have to die to self if we wish to follow Jesus. (Living Liturgy, p.204)

Vincentian Meditation:

“The story of St. Vincent’s life is the story of continual conversion to discipleship, a continual dying to self. Vincent life is a story of continual turning towards Someone. That Someone is the person of Jesus Christ as He is made known in the Gospel. Vincent kept turning towards Jesus and towards the poor. That must also become the story of our life. St. Vincent often gave his followers a guiding principle in the practice of frequently stopping during the day in order to ask the simple question: “What would Jesus Christ do or say if He were in the circumstances in which I find myself now?” (McCullen, Deep Down Things, p.698)

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

What would happen in our Conference if we would always asked the question “What would Jesus Christ do or say…? “

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you are the faithful disciple of God,

may we help to carry the burdens of others. 

Jesus, you carried your cross with faith and trust,

may we patiently endure times of suffering.

Jesus, give us the grace to always ask the question,

“What would Jesus do or say if He were here?”

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.