With the coming of Jesus and through the work of the Apostles, the restoration plan of God has begun—a restoration that humanity ultimately longs for. Today’s Gospel tells us what we need to be part of it, since the laborers are few.
Learning to See
The first step is learning to truly perceive ourselves, other people, life, and the world as a whole. It means not avoiding any reality, no matter how depressing or hopeless it may seem. This also involves allowing ourselves to be seen and looked at by Jesus—letting Him gaze upon us. For it is only under His gaze that our eyes are opened to our true condition, to the real condition of the people we live with, and to the true condition of the world at large.
The Longing for Healing
The second step is then to expose ourselves to the liberating, healing, and life-giving power of Jesus and to allow ourselves to be continually filled and renewed by it. On our own, we are tired and exhausted, like sheep without a shepherd. We are dependent on Jesus and His therapeutic power. This power reaches us concretely through His Word and through the celebration of the Eucharist.
Impacting the World
Such a life has an impact. A life transformed by the healing power of Jesus—a life that becomes more whole and fulfilled—necessarily affects the lives of others, of the world, and of life itself. Everything that is shaped by a deep longing for healing and wholeness is changed toward its greater possibilities. This is called the Kingdom of Heaven in the language of the Gospel.
St. Vincent de Paul: A Man Who Learned to See
Early in his life, Vincent was ambitious—concerned with career and social status. But through a series of personal encounters (with suffering peasants), he was converted. He once said: “Go to the poor: you will find God.” He learned to see the world through the compassionate eyes of Christ.
St. Vincent’s Longing for the Healing Power of Christ
St. Vincent knew that he could not serve the poor by his own strength. He spent hours praying, celebrated the Eucharist daily. He encouraged his followers to root their action in the love of Christ, received in the Word and sacrament. His famous line reflects this: “Give me a man of prayer, and he will be capable of everything.”
He recognized that Christian charity is not mere philanthropy—it is Christ acting through us. Then, we are tired and weary on our own—like sheep without a shepherd—but Christ renews and fills us.
Vincent de Paul: A Life That Transforms Others
St. Vincent de Paul did not set out to found a religious order or reform the Church. He simply responded, again and again, to concrete need with concrete love. In this way, he founded the Daughters of Charity with St. Louise de Marillac. He reformed the clergy through seminaries and retreats. He inspired lay movements like the Society of St. Vincent de Paul centuries later. And he became a spiritual father to thousands. All because he allowed himself to be seen by Christ, to be healed by Him, and to see others with His eyes.
Jesus Still Looks and Gazes
Let us allow ourselves to be taken into His gaze—so that we may find life, for ourselves, and for the world in which everyone has their place and their own unique calling.
