Spiritual Reflection - Monday June 14, 2021
Thomas Merton writes,
“One thing above all is important: “the return to the Father.”
The Son came into the world and died for us and rose and ascended to the Father; sent us His Spirit, that in Him and with Him we might return to the Father… to God who loves and knows, to the Silent, to the Merciful, to the Holy, to God Who is All.” (K. Deignan, “Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours” p. 166-167, Sorin Books, Notre Dame)
Each day as we continue our journey encountering and loving our brothers and sisters, inspired by those Vincentians who have gone before us, we are returning to the Father, allowing God to live in us more and more, until one day when our journey is complete, we will hopefully experience in all its fullness that communion with our Lord.
The mission of St. Vincent de Paul Society members, the feeding of and caring for our brothers and sisters, and more important, listening and being present to them, hopefully restoring some of their dignity as persons who are created in the image of God, is not a mission that the world appreciates or even sees, for it is carried out mostly away from the main stream of life, at night and out of sight and in places where society would rather not go or even care to know about.
This quiet service is done in such a manner so as to not draw attention to our work and, more importantly, so as to not cause any discomfort to those whom we visit by drawing attention to their situation or condition. In this way we offer respect and dignity and so love people as Christ loves them.
In loving people as Christ loves them we in turn grow in our love of Christ, which opens us to the love of the Father, allowing God to live in us and us to live in God.
And all of this is to be carried out in the deepest humility and simplicity.
Blessed Rosalie Rendu was for all of us as Christians and Vincentians a wonderful example of this.
A story is told of a visitor who came to see Blessed Rosalie Rendu because of her “fame” in the hope of seeing “something very extraordinary.”
“He was received by Sister Rosalie, who spoke to him in her usual politeness and simplicity, and pursued her accustomed occupations in his presence. After some time, he went to another Sister of the house and he asked to be introduced to the superior, Sister Rosalie.
On being told that he had just seen her, he exclaimed, “What… is Sr. Rosalie nothing more than that?”
He had in fact seen nothing in her to distinguish her from others; and could not understand the apparent disproportion between the person and her reputation.” (J.M. Rendu, “The Life of Souer Rosalie”, p. 83-84, London)
The world like this visitor, as we know, does not understand because of the way it measures greatness.
Gene Bowles, whom we recently lost, was a wonderful example of the humble, quiet, peaceful and compassionate way that Vincentians carry out their mission and the fruits that result thanks to God’s grace.
May he and all of our Vincentian sisters and brothers, and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen
(Spiritual reflection by Deacon Steve.)