St. Vincent de Paul, priest, religious founder

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:

Zechariah 8:1-8
Psalm 102:16-23,29
Luke 9:46-50


A reflection on the Scripture:

Humility is the first virtue of the Christian life. It is only through humbling our intelligence that we can have faith. It is only through humbling our entire selves that we can be possessed by the love that is God Himself.

It is humility of which our Lord speaks today. Natural humility is such that an infant relies totally on its parents. An infant is more than willing to cry out in need. Likewise, one beginning one's spiritual life must manifest the virtue of humility, recognizing how completely dependent upon God one is, and crying out to Him in petition.

Which of the disciples was the greatest? That's like asking which of several infants is most mature. For maturity, one turns to one's parents. To grow, one becomes like one's parents. So Jesus leads us through Himself to His heavenly Father.

But as we seek to grow, we often fall. Such is the situation faced by the people of the Old Covenant in the first reading. The great city of Jerusalem was broken down, as we in our spiritual lives often are. What God says in today's responsorial psalm about the Holy City, He wishes to say in regard to each of us, if we will accept Him in humility of heart. For indeed, the Lord will build up Zion again, and He will appear again in all of His glory.

Father Thomas Hoisington

O Lord,
you are just
and the judgments you make are right.
Show mercy when you judge me. Amen.