Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 09-27-12, M, St. Vincent de Paul, Priest

The Challenge to be Christian

Homily of the Day
September 27th, 2012
Food For Thought

Thursday, September 27, 2012 by Food for Thought

MEMORIAL OF ST. VINCENT de PAUL

FirstReading: Eccl 1:2-11
Psalm: Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 And 17bc
Gospel: Lk 9:7-9

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live our lives according to Gospel values. If we were to really follow Jesus’ teaching in our lives, it would make some people uncomfortable. There was a teacher who was first transferred to a small barrio school. He began to devote all his talents and abilities in improving the students and the school. He gave tuition to students who were weak in certain subjects and helped to coach them in games. Very soon, other teachers in the school told
him not to work overtime and to take things easy. The other teacherswere very complacent doing little for the students or for the school. So when this new teacher came along, what he did began to prick their conscience and they reacted by asking him not to work too hard. However, this new teacher was not a person to take things lying down and was daring enough to continue doing what he really believed in. Eventually, the other not so hardworking teachers started doing more in
order not be criticized or outdone by this new teacher.

If this can happen to a teacher trying to live out his ideals, so can it happen to us Christians when we come in contact with the people whom we meet every day. Our very lives can challenge them and remind them of what they should or should not be doing. This is one way of proclaiming
the Kingdom of God. The challenge for you today is to ask yourself: What do you do when you are asked to change your behavior by your business partners in matters like cutting corners in business deals or having recourse to underhand dealings?

Very often, we do not realize how our example can influence the lives of others especially when our lives prick the conscience of those we come in contact with. It is not that you go out of your way to prick their conscience but by living your life according to the values of the Gospel, you can be doing that to some people and help them gradually to change for the better.

Are you just acting as a Christian or are you really living your life as a Christian? The Gospel reading today challenges us to make the values of the Gospel part of our life so that we will not seem just to be acting like a Christian in our daily lives but really living it.

One Bread, One Body

<< Thursday, September 27, 2012 >>

St. Vincent de Paul

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
View Readings

Psalm 90:3-6, 12-14, 17

Luke 9:7-9

JESUS AND THE VAIN DRAIN

"Vanity of vanities!" —Ecclesiastes 1:2

"All things are vanity!" (Eccl 1:2) Our work is wasted (Eccl 1:3). We live so we can die (see Eccl 1:4). The sun, the wind, the rivers, and all creation are trapped in a cyclical pattern (see Eccl 1:5-7). We are literally and futilely "going around in circles." Even talking about our problem is a problem (Eccl 1:8).

The more we know and experience, the more dissatisfied and empty we become (Eccl 1:8). We think we can change the future, but the future will be merely re-runs of the past (see Eccl 1:9-10). Death overshadows life so much as to make life an exercise in self-deception and futility. We are tempted to view novelties and anomalies as newness, freedom, and hope. However, these signs of hope, on closer inspection, become signs of doom.

Jesus became a human being and entered our vicious cycle of vanity, illusion, and despair. Although He was crucified and murdered, He was not destroyed by this fallen world. Jesus rose from the dead. This was new — radically and totally new. Jesus broke the spell of deadly vanity. "This means that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old order has passed away; now all is new!" (2 Cor 5:17) Change anything and everything in your life so that you live in Jesus (see Gal 2:19-20).

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your love in Jesus.

Promise: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart." —Ps 90:12

Praise: St. Vincent's primary virtue was charity. He combined his ministry among the very rich and fashionable with his absolute devotion to the oppressed and the poor.