St Vincent de Paul Spiritual Reflection June 2017

June 2017

Second letter of St. Paul to Timothy (2 Tim 4:1-5)

 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.

 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths.

 But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardship; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry.

Vincentian Reflection

Whew. That’s what I choose to call this week, so I guess we could call today Whews-day. I doubt it’s obvious what I mean, so I’ll try to get right to the point.

We catholics have been very busy for the last several months. With only a few weeks respite from the busy Advent and Christmas seasons, we’ve since then journeyed together… through Lent and Palm Sunday, observed a Holy Week, celebrated our salvation on the Holy Day of Easter and the subsequent Easter season, penta-costed a Sunday, followed by The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity which was then followed by The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.

Next Sunday, June 25th, is the first ‘ordinary’ Sunday since February 19th. So yeah, whew.

And yet…We enter this period of ordinary time not simply relieved to have completed all of the aforementioned observances and celebrations but empowered, enthusiastic, and energized.

Empowered by having our faith confirmed and justified in Christ’s resurrection;

Enthusiastic for the renewal of our Baptismal promise;

Energized by the gift of the Holy Spirit that sits with us tonight and walks with us every day.

Just as St. Paul exhorts us to “Fulfill your ministry”; I propose we take these gifts, which have spiritually strengthened and enriched each one of us, and with Enthusiasm continue the work exemplified by our founder, Blessed Frédéric Ozanam.

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