St Vincent de Paul Spiritual Reflection January 2017

January 2017

Colossians (CO 3:12-17)

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, 
heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience -
bearing with one another and forgiving one another, 

if one has a grievance against another; 
as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.

And over all these put on love, that is, 
the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, 
the peace into which you were also called in one body. 

And be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, 
as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another, 
singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs 
with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, 
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, 
giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Vincentian Reflection

Here we are at the beginning of a new calendar year, celebrating ordinary time as we cycle towards Lent (March 1st this year), a little more than a month away.

For this first reflection of a new year I return once again to the Vincentian mission, as we are told…

The Mission Statement is clear: (the) Vincentian ministry is a means for acquiring holiness. The ministry of a Vincentian to those and with those who stand in need is the powerful means that affects holiness of life for the individual Vincentian.

Or, as stated another way –

“The Society has two aims: to do a great deal of spiritual good to its members through the exercise of charity, and to do a little spiritual and temporal good to a few poor families in the name of Jesus Christ.

Just a friendly reminder from your local Spiritual Advisor that we are not here primarily for the business practicalities of serving the poor, but to nurture and enhance our own holiness and grace by doing so.

But speaking of the many of “those who stand in need”, these few of too many poor families…at times they are not the easiest to deal with. Their wrappings and trappings oft times can take the appearance of mere takers, looking for gifts from any source to ease their lives.

Yet, to fulfill our mission I suggest we should strive to always present the “heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” St. Paul asks for in tonight’s reading. Not only when we are able to provide assistance, but especially when we are for whatever reason unable to provide assistance.

And on those blessed times when we are able to help, we should not only present those traits of Grace called for by St. Paul but to remember the gifts we bring are not from us but from Christ, the thanks we receive are not for us, but for the savior himself. Keeping this in mind should help us remember what else St. Paul instructed us, namely

whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him

Amen.

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