St. Vincent de Paul

Today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes invites us to think about how we spend our time, how we spend our lives.  What is the real purpose of our work, our labor?  What is the purpose of what we do when the earth and sun and everything just continues on after we’re gone?

Perhaps there is an invitation for us to be more helpful towards those who are suffering, or perhaps to examine how we use our time.

Reflecting on a model for us – St Vincent DePaul – today on his feast day, and how he prioritized his time, also invites us to care for others.  He dedicated his life to serving the poor, helped reform the clergy in the French Church and was known for his generosity and charity. 

Perhaps there is an invitation for us to be part of the reform in our Church today…a Church that has struggled immensely with sexual abuse scandals of clergy and leaders, particularly recently in the United States.  Perhaps there is an invitation for us to be more generous and charitable today, with the inspiration of St. Vincent de Paul.

Our Gospel passage today is brief and focuses on Herod’s confusion and curiosity.  He is confused by who Jesus is and expresses his curiosity to know who this person is.

Perhaps there is an invitation to us to seek to know Jesus better and more deeply, as Herod’s curiosity is described in our Gospel reading.

Today, I pray that each of us, in our own way, answers an invitation to grow closer to God and to all of God’s creation, to advocate and serve on behalf of others, particularly those most vulnerable.  St Ignatius, pray for us. St. Vincent de Paul, pray for us.