Bible Readings for this day (28 Sep, Sun - 26th Week)

Ezekiel 18: 25-28
Thus says the LORD: Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s conduct is unjust!’ Hear, O house of Israel: Is my conduct unjust? Is it not your conduct that is unjust? When a righteous person turns back from his righteousness and practices wrongdoing, he will die for it; because of the wrongdoing he has done, he will die. When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life. Because he considered and turned from all the sins he had done, he will surely live; he will not die.

Philippians 2: 1-11
Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose. Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,
who though he existed in the form of God
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself
by taking on the form of a slave,
by looking like other men,
and by sharing in human nature.
He humbled himself,
by becoming obedient to the point of death
– even death on a cross!
As a result God exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee will bow
– in heaven and on earth and under the earth –
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.

Matthew 21: 28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ The boy answered, ‘I will not.’ But later he had a change of heart and went. The father went to the other son and said the same thing. This boy answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God! For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe. Although you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.”

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul

So who is this saint? Let's turn to Wikipedia:

- born on April 24, 1581 in Pouy, Landes, Gascony, France
- was ordained in 1600
- was taken captive by Turkish pirates to Tunis, and sold into slavery
- was freed in 1607 after converting his owner to Christianity
- returned to France and served as priest in a parish near Paris
- founded many charitable organizations such as Congregation of the Daughters of Charity
and the Congregation of Priests of the Mission (Lazarists)
- died on September 27, 1660 in Paris, France
- was declared Blessed on 13 August 1729 and canonized on 16 June 1737
- patron to the Sisters of Charity and the Brothers of Charity
- his body has remained incorrupt to this day

Today's Bible Readings (27 Sep, Sat - 25th Week)

Ecclesiastes 11:9 — 12:8
Rejoice, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth.
Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes,
but know that God will judge your motives and actions.
Banish emotional stress from your mind.
and put away pain from your body;
for youth and the prime of life are fleeting.
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth –
before the difficult days come,
and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;
before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars grow dark,
and the clouds disappear after the rain;
when those who keep watch over the house begin to tremble,
and the virile men begin to stoop over,
and the grinders begin to cease because they grow few,
and those who look through the windows grow dim,
and the doors along the street are shut;
when the sound of the grinding mill grows low,
and one is awakened by the sound of a bird,
and all their songs grow faint,
and they are afraid of heights and the dangers in the street;
the almond blossoms grow white,
and the grasshopper drags itself along,
and the caper berry shrivels up –
because man goes to his eternal home,
and the mourners go about in the streets –
before the silver cord is removed,
or the golden bowl is broken,
or the pitcher is shattered at the well,
or the water wheel is broken at the cistern –
and the dust returns to the earth as it was,
and the life’s breath returns to God who gave it.
“Absolutely futile!” laments the Teacher,
“All of these things are futile!”

Luke 9: 43-45
While the entire crowd was amazed at everything Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples, “Take these words to heart, for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet they were afraid to ask him about this statement.