Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
September 27, 2021
Readings for the Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, priest
Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest
Lectionary: 455
Reading I
This word of the LORD of hosts came:
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
I am intensely jealous for Zion,
stirred to jealous wrath for her.
Thus says the LORD:
I will return to Zion,
and I will dwell within Jerusalem;
Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city,
and the mountain of the LORD of hosts,
the holy mountain.
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women,
each with staff in hand because of old age,
shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem.
The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?
Thus says the LORD of hosts:
Lo, I will rescue my people from the land of the rising sun,
and from the land of the setting sun.
I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem.
They shall be my people, and I will be their God,
with faithfulness and justice.
Responsorial Psalm
102:16-18, 19-21, 29 and 22-23
- (17) The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The nations shall revere your name, O LORD,
and all the kings of the earth your glory,
When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Let this be written for the generation to come,
and let his future creatures praise the Lord:
“The LORD looked down from his holy height,
from heaven he beheld the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoners,
to release those doomed to die.”
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.
That the name of the LORD may be declared in Zion;
and his praise, in Jerusalem,
When the peoples gather together,
and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
R. The Lord will build up Zion again, and appear in all his glory.
Alleluia
- Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
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.”
Reflection: THE LEAST IS THE GREATEST
The values of Jesus were not of this world. Little children were there in good numbers in most of the Jewish households. They were of no account since they were all dependents. For that matter even the women were dependents. The father of the family was the one who mattered in all situations. Jesus was telling people with such a vision of life that unless they became like little children, they could not be his disciples in the real sense of the word. And if anyone wanted to be great among the disciples, he was to be the least. The pharisees were the models to whom the Jews looked up to. Pharisees looked for places of honour at banquets and if the host were to make a mistake in this matter it could lead to a quarrel and even to an unending feud. To such people Jesus said, 'seek the lowest place at banquets', 'be proud to be the least'. Taking a cue from this Thomas a Kempis would say: 'seek to be unknown and to be of no repute'. This was a challenge to the Jews then and it remains a challenge to us today.