Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the memorial of the life and legacy of Saint Vincent de Paul and we are reminded not only of his extraordinary commitment to service but also of how deeply his understanding of Christ's true identity was the impetus that shaped his saintly life. Through the readings from Ecclesiastes and the Gospel of Luke, we are called to consider the appropriate times in our lives—times for planting and uprooting, healing and mourning—and how these seasons are underpinned by our knowledge of who Christ truly is.
Saint Vincent de Paul lived in a tumultuous time in France, marked by hardship and suffering. Yet, what drives our contemplation today is not solely the socio-economic context in which he operated but rather the profound identity of Christ that Vincent grasped so intimately. When he looked upon the marginalized—the needy, the sick, the oppressed—he saw in them the face of Christ himself. This recognition was not merely an abstract theological concept for Saint Vincent; it was a lived experience that transformed his heart and compelled him to action.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus poses a pivotal question to his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” This question reverberates through the ages, challenging each one of us to delve into the depth of our faith. While the crowds might have perceived Jesus merely as a prophet or a teacher, Peter recognizes him as “the Christ of God.” The truth matters. The truth is necessary. Otherwise we will find ourselves building our lives on fables and illusions. The truth of the divine identity of Christ—as the Messiah, the Savior—is what allowed Vincent de Paul to serve others with such fervor and compassion.
Ecclesiastes reminds us that everything has its appointed time. There is a season for joy and a season for sorrow, for peace and for struggle. When we comprehend Christ as the Lord of time, we acknowledge that he transcends the temporal, living in a constant relationship with us through all our seasons. So in all the appointed times mentioned by Ecclesiastes, whether it be in times of suffering or joy, Christ is present in our midst to accompany us.
Vincent understood that every act of charity, every moment of kindness, was not simply a good deed but an encounter with Christ himself. His dedication to serving the poor, establishing charitable organizations, and advocating for social justice emanated from a heart transformed by the love of Christ. He saw every life—as broken and difficult as it may have been—as imbued with the dignity granted by their Creator.
In our own lives, knowing who Christ truly is shapes our actions and our understanding of our mission. If we recognize Christ in the faces of the marginalized in our communities, it compels us to serve, to love without condition, and to advocate for justice. It enables us to find meaning in our toil and efforts, even when the world around us seems chaotic or unjust.
Let us also reflect on the roles of silence and speaking in our lives, as illustrated in Ecclesiastes. Sometimes, in our desire to make a difference, we may push forward too quickly without understanding the appointed times. Like Vincent, we must learn when to act, when to listen, and when to simply be present with Christ in those we serve.
In conclusion, let us pray for the grace to recognize Christ's true identity in our lives and in the lives of others. To a journalist who once questioned Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s sanity in
ministering to wretched people who had the most foul odours laying out in the streets to die she said it was because she could see Christ in those people that she did her utmost to help them. May we be inspired by these saints’ example of faith in action, and may we discover the timeless purpose that God has carved into our hearts—a purpose that calls us to serve, to give, and ultimately to love as Christ loved us in our hope of remaining with him forever after serving our mission here and now. A time for everything under the sun and beyond it. Amen.
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