Sep 27 – Memorial for St. Vincent de Paul, Priest
St. Vincent (1581-1660) spent four years with the Franciscan friars getting an education. He was taken captive by Turkish pirates and sold into slavery, then freed when he converted one of his owners to Christianity. He started organisations to help the poor, nursed the sick, found jobs for the unemployed, etc. With Louise de Marillac, he founded the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity. He also instituted the Congregation of Priests of the Mission (Lazarists).
- Patron Saint Index
Ecc 3:1-11
Lk 9:18-22
There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven…What does a man gain for the efforts that he makes?
Unlike most other passages from the bible, I have seen and heard this one many times before. It always struck me as somehow different, like it came from somewhere else, as it did not sound ‘preachy’ enough. In fact, it sounded like something I would have had to study for my O Level Literature course. And it does, in fact, remind me of a passage from Macbeth. Specifically, Macbeth’s speech in Act 5, Scene 5, right after his wife dies. Macbeth’s speech is dramatic, and shows his anguish at an empty life which, despite having been filled with a whole lot of action including his becoming King of Scotland, will simply go out like an extinguished flame.
Verses 1-9: Existentialist Angst
Today’s first reading from Ecclesiastes made me think of that Macbeth speech. At least, verses 1 to 9 did. On the surface, it sounds pleasant enough, as it lets you reminisce about all of life’s ups and downs, and yes, everything has its time and place and we all go through our lives as best as we can. However, verse 9 was sobering — what hath man more of his labour? What profit have workers from their toil? What have we got to show for all that we have done and all that we have been through? Was life simply a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing?
The more I read these first verses of the passage, the more it felt like life, as a whole, was almost pre-determined. We will all go through the same kinds of experiences, the same kinds of emotions, the same kinds of joys and pains. And then, we die. And then what? If we look at things from the perspective of those left behind then yes, our memories and legacies would live on. But from our own perspective? Honestly, no one knows, and no one can come back and categorically explain what it is like to cease to exist. And I have to say, this does fill me with a certain amount of panic, as I wonder what my existence has been for.
At some point during our lives, we stop to re-think the purpose of our lives. Some of us find that we are happy to continue on the same path. Some decide to make bold changes. Some are forced into new roles. Some are stuck in the old ones. But in all cases, we are all searching for happiness and joy. We get caught up in the mundane things we do, the routine motions of everyday life, the rinse and repeat of human existence, and we start yearning for something more; if there even is something more for us.
Even as a Christian, it is easy to get lost in the pursuit of happiness, satisfaction, and rewards. We all want to have something to show for it, some way to gain after all that we have given. After all the time and energy spent on volunteering with parish ministries, we expect to be rewarded with blessings and answered prayers. After all the pain and suffering, we expect joy and mirth in return. So, what happens when we do not get our just rewards, when there is no harvest after all that toiling? Even worse, what happens when life gets worse and worse as we go along? It is understandable to sink into sadness, even hopelessness and despair.
Verses 10-11: Hope, God’s work, and Eternity
One thing I heard someone say when I was a young adult fundamentally shook my understanding of the meaning of ‘doing God’s work’. Before that, I assumed doing God’s work meant directly working for the church — be a priest, a catechist, a warden, an altar server, join the youth groups, bring people in for RCIA, etc. As an introvert, this all but terrified me. My parents had been actively involved in church ministries, and my catechists had strongly encouraged all of us to join a ministry after Confirmation (you guessed it, I did not), and so my misperception continued.
Then, someone explained that doing God’s work was not confined to doing things for the Church. It simply meant that whatever you do, do it for the greater glory of God. What an epiphany! At that point, I had been trying to keep up with my university coursework, and I certainly did not think I had the time to spare for doing ‘church things’. Looking at other fellow Catholic students who were involved in so many church activities and, at the same time, getting distinctions and awards for their school work, I couldn’t help but feel grossly inadequate. What that person said profoundly changed the way I went about doing things, which did actually become easier; and I even went on to serve as a catechist at my parish for a few years.
Verse 10 of this passage talks about the work given by God for us to do. When we look at our work from this new perspective, it becomes clearer what role we play as co-creators of God’s kingdom. Whatever we are called to do, whatever our professions or vocations, we are all working towards His will being done on earth. No work is too small or too insignificant, as long as it is in line with what God has planned for us.
Verse 11 speaks of an eternity that we cannot know about yet. There is a hope contained in that eternity, and it is through faith that we can persevere and work towards that eternity that has been promised to us. God has made all things good in His time. And we now have to play our roles well and work with that hope in our hearts. We may not always know the reasons for the things we have to go through, for the things we have to do, and sometimes, things can happen because of free will. We just need to remember that God has a plan and He can write straight with crooked lines. He will make a way for us.
Fullness of Life
Life happens. And we are wont to complain about it, with some of us having more legitimate reasons to do so than others. We all have to get through this life here on earth, but we must not forget about the Eternal Life promised to us after our earthly life has ended. And, we have to do what we must to get to that Eternal Life. As children of God, that involves fully living out our God-given roles and vocations here on earth, one day at a time.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Felicia Zou)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we pray for the gift of Faith, so as to trust in your plan for us. We pray for the gift of Hope, so as to live our lives the way you meant us to. We pray for the gift of Love, so we can love as you do.
Thanksgiving: Dear Lord, we thank You for Your unending love that you shower on us every day.
OXYGEN 
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