Among the essential elements to our work and life as Vincentians there are, at least, three. The most obvious of these, in the public eye, is our ministry to the poor and vulnerable. This is the one that gets measured and reported on. It is also very easy for us to see the spiritual value attached to this ministry as when we read St. Matthew's gospel, chapter 25, about the judgement between the sheep and the goats when Jesus returns in glory as King. However, there are two other essential elements which we neglect at great risk to our very mission and ministry. I compare them to gasoline and oil in a motor car.
The first of the other two elements, which I compare to gasoline for a car, is our personal spiritual life - our connection with God our Father, with Christ our Lord, and with the Holy Spirit. This is the source of our power to minister to the poor. Without a spiritual life of regular prayer, Scripture and the sacraments our tank gets empty. You can only run on fumes for a very short while before you sputter and stop. Frederic Ozanam's spiritual life included daily reading and meditating on the Bible and regularly going to mass and communion. (His wife gives us this testimony: Despite his grave illness he never put aside his time of prayer. I have never seen him go to bed at night or rise in the morning without making the sign of the cross. In the morning he reads the Bible in Greek and meditates for half an hour. During the last days of his life he attended Mass on a daily basis and found support and consolation in doing this.)
Important as this is, it is the last of the three elements that is the one I most want to draw attention to right now. It is the easiest to consider as unimportant or even to ignore completely. A car without an oil change can continue going far longer than it can without refilling the gas tank. But, when it does break down, the damage is far greater. The oil I refer to is the oil of love which Christ commanded us to have for one another when he said, after washing the feet of the apostles, "A new commandment I give to you." He said that by this love for one another everyone would recognize that we are his disciples. It is the love which binds us in the kind of unity that distinguishes members in the Body of Christ from other charitable associations and organizations. As such, Vincentians are ministers in a committed ministry of service in the Body of Christ, and not merely volunteers with good, altruistic intentions.
How can we, in this Conference, deepen our love for one another? There must be many ways but I would like to recommend just two for starters. Firstly, let us avoid complaining about a sister or brother Vincentian to anyone except God. This is called backbiting and is one of the most destructive behaviours for a community. Just because we know it to be true does not make it OK. To bear wrongs patiently is one of the spiritual works of mercy. Secondly, and more positively, let us try developing friendships; get to know, and be prepared to share something of ourselves with, some or other members of the team we are on. Blessed Frederic Ozanam was only able to start his Society of Charity because of the committed support he and his friends gave each other when they started this venture together.
Let us have a good and regular oil change, fill our gas tanks, and together get to the destination Christ has planned for us among the poor and vulnerable.