August 2018
Gospel of Mark (Mk 10:42-45)
Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
Vincentian Reflection
It’s August, it’s hot and for the second year in a row we’re homeless and once again hosted by our great friends and benefactors – Knights of Columbus Council 5271, Glendora/Covina.
Speaking of the Knights, the similarities and differences between our two organizations are interesting and form the basis of the reflection tonight.
For example, we all know that the Society of St. Vincent De Paul was born in France with local but purely stated ambitions. The same holds true for the Knights, except the origins are right here in the United States, roughly fifty years later.
We also all know the very personal story of Frederic Ozanam and how his need to help others gave birth to our Society. Likewise, Father Michael McGivney simply couldn’t stand by while lower caste Catholics, including immigrants, suffered from the death of the sole breadwinner. From the KOC website I quote
Though this story of financial ruin for Catholic families was common, Father McGivney was convinced that there was a way to change the ending. He knew that if the Catholic men in his parish came together in mutual aid, widows and orphans could receive the support they needed.
The simple, Christ like purity of that helps explain how the Knights grew out of Father McGivneys’ parish to an enormous global presence. Also from the KOC website
He (Fr. McGivney) also knew that if Catholic men banded together, united by charity and unity, they could strengthen their faith, their families, and their communities.
Not unlike the quote you often hear repeated in these reflections
“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.
The great good performed by the Knights and SvDP all around the globe can and should always be acknowledged. What I propose we can take from our similarities is that we serve our Lord by strengthening our faith in Him and with Him. The impossible becomes the accomplished when we walk in His Light. Let us continue to draw strength from each other and do just that.
Welcome to 10 Angels 