The Feast of Saint Vincent de Paul | Wednesday 27 September 2023

Today is Wednesday 27 September, the feast of Saint Vincent de Paul, in the 25th week of Ordinary time.

Juliano Ravanello sings the Kyrie. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.


Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison

Today’s reading is from the Book of Ezra.

Ezra 9:5-9


At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the Lord my God, and said,

‘O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case. But now for a brief moment favour has been shown by the Lord our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place, in order that he may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery. For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem.

Ezra starts this passage acutely aware of his sinfulness. But this leads him to approach God, rather than run away from him. Can you perhaps ask for this same uncomfortable gift or grace as this prayer begins?

Ezra is aware not only of his own sins, but of those of his whole community. What faults and failings are you most aware of in your community, your country, or even in our world as a whole?

In this second reading of the passage, notice especially the signs of hope, and of the constancy of God’s love.

God, we are sometimes told, “hates the sin but loves the sinner”. As a sinner yourself, say whatever is in your heart now to this God of steadfast love.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.