Symbols: news articles about war with a white flag in the center
Opening Prayer:
Let us pray:
Gracious God, in your goodness you have called us to be evangelizers of the poor, thus following in the footsteps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ and those of Saint Vincent de Paul. Yes, you have called us to be diligent and bold as we go out to provide for the needs of our suffering sisters and brothers. With the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, enable us to proclaim the Good News and to give witness to the Kingdom wherever we may serve. In that way no one living on the peripheries throughout the world will be deprived of the joyful proclamation of the mystery of salvation.
As we contemplate your Son, who lived among us, may we move from the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist to the table of poor and there, may we share with others the Bread of Life. May we clothe ourselves in such a manner than we are able to respond effectively to the challenges of the present-day world. We pray in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen
Scripture
A reading from the gospel according to Saint Matthew (Matthew 5L38-46)
Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? The word of God.
Let us listen to the words of Vincent de Paul
There’s war in all the Catholic kingdoms: France. Spain. Italy. Germany, Sweden. Poland—being attacked on three fronts — and Ireland, even in the poor, nearly uninhabitable mountains and rocky areas. Scotland is not much better off, and we know the deplorable state of England. There is war everywhere, misery everywhere. In France, so many people are suffering! O Sauveur! O Sauveur! If, for the four months we have had war here, we have had so much misery in the heart of France, where food supplies are ample everywhere, what can those poor people in the border areas do, who have been in this sort of misery for twenty years? Yes, it has been a good twenty years that there has always been war there; if they sow their crops, they are not sure they can gather them in; the armies arrive and pillage and carry everything off; and what the soldier has not taken, the sergeants take and carry off. After that, what can be done? What will become of them? They must die. If there is a true religion . . . what did I say, wretched man that I am …! God forgive me! I am speaking materially. It is among them, among those poor people that true religion and a living faith are preserved (CCD:XI:189-190).
Reflection:
War brings out the worst aspects of the human being; it reveals the cruelty and insensitivity of people. In other words, there is nothing that is more coldly calculated than war which is the result of selfish and manipulative interests. Very often in war, political and economic goals are pursued, but those goals benefit a small minority of the people. Today the world experiences some very sad situations in which we witness the manner in which everything is destroyed in the path of war and all that is left in its path is death and sadness.
Terror will reign when people put aside the gospel message and replace it with a distinct understanding of the world. Yes, conflict is present in every aspect of our social life, but we are challenged to seek creative ways in which hatred and vengeance can be overcome by Christian love. The words of Jesus remind us constantly that we must confront those situations of violence and bloodshed that divide us and at the same build bridges of justice and love that will draw us closer to one another and enable us to live as brothers and sisters.
Questions:
[1] How do I act in situations of conflict?
[2] How did Vincent act during the various situations of war?
[3] What is the role of dialogue with regard to relationships among the various branches of the Vincentian Family?
Closing Prayer and Blessing:
Let us Pray:
Loving God, set our hearts on fire with the desire to serve you! You have called us to evangelize our neighbor and to work on behalf of their salvation in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach us by your example and grant us all the virtues proper to true evangelizers. Fill us with zeal so that we might set the world on fire. In your mercy grant us these graces, you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
