Daily Gospel Reflection – Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
September 27, 2021
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
Gospel: Lk 9:46-50
An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest.
Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child
and placed it by his side and said to them,
“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”
Then John said in reply,
“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”
Jesus said to him,
“Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Bishop Robert Barron
Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that he will be rejected by men who will kill him and then he will rise from the dead. Having just heard a vision of self-forgetting love, the disciples commence to argue about which of them is the greatest.
At this point, Jesus proposes a solution. He sets a little child in their midst and says, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me." What are children capable of? They are capable of being commanded. They have not yet learned the path of disobedience.
Also, little children are able to live radically in the present moment, to be lost in play or in the contemplation of something beautiful. Most of us live either in the past (savoring faded glory or licking old wounds) or in the future (aspiring, hoping, fearing what might come). But God is available, grace is available now.
Anthony de Mello’s image is apt here: most of us are like people on a bus, passing through the most beautiful country imaginable, but we have the shades drawn and are arguing about who has first place on the bus!
COMMENTS