Tuesday 27 September

St Vincent de Paul, priest

Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23, Ps 88, Luke 9:51-56

Go, up to Jerusalem

Some of the sisters and brothers, following the tradition of the Samaritans in this gospel, will shut the door on the disciple who expresses a desire to make their way to Jerusalem/Golgotha. Yet even in the anguish of shut doors Christ desires mercy not sacrifice (Mt 9:13). At Golgotha the disciple learns that there is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). This is the greater love. Christ imprints his cross on the soul so that the disciple may lead a life of priestly and prophetic