St Vincent — Fidelity That Costs

Today’s readings place before us a challenging truth:
fidelity to God often brings misunderstanding,
jealousy,
and even persecution.

Whether in the life of David,
in the ministry of Jesus,
or in the witness of St Vincent,
we see that holiness is rarely comfortable
for those who witness it
and never easy for those who live it.

In the first reading from 1 Samuel,
David is at the height of his success.

He has defeated Goliath.
He has won the admiration of the people.
He has shown nothing but loyalty to King Saul.

And yet Saul’s heart becomes poisoned by jealousy.

The refrain sung by the women —
“Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands” —
awakens something dangerous in Saul.

Fear of losing power.
Fear of being eclipsed.
Fear that God’s favour
now rests elsewhere.

From that moment on,
Saul no longer sees David as a blessing
but as a threat.

What is striking
is David’s response.

He does not retaliate.
He does not grasp for power.
Even when Saul seeks his life,
David continues to act with humility,
patience,
and trust in God.

David teaches us that faithfulness
does not guarantee safety.
But it does shape
how we respond to injustice.

He entrusts his future to God
rather than taking revenge
into his own hands.

The Gospel from Mark
brings this theme even closer to home.

Jesus himself is misunderstood —
not by strangers,
but by his own family.

They say,
“He is out of his mind.”

The religious authorities accuse him
of being possessed.

Jesus, who brings healing,
freedom,
and mercy,
is met with suspicion and hostility.

Why?

Because he disrupts expectations.
Because he challenges comfortable structures.
Because he reveals a God
whose mercy is wider
and more demanding
than people are prepared to accept.

Jesus’ response is calm
but radical.

He redefines family —
not by blood,
but by obedience to God’s will:

“Whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

Faithfulness to God
may sometimes place us at odds
even with those closest to us.

The Gospel does not promise
that discipleship will always be understood
or applauded.

It promises something deeper:
belonging to Christ.

This is where St Vincent,
whose feast we celebrate today,
comes powerfully into focus.

Vincent was a deacon in Spain
during a time of fierce persecution.

He preached the Gospel.
He served the poor.
And because of that,
he was visible.

When arrested,
his bishop was spared,
but Vincent was tortured relentlessly.

His persecutors believed
that pain would silence him.

Instead,
his courage strengthened the faith of others.

Vincent could have saved himself
by compromise.

He could have softened his words.
He could have hidden his faith.
He could have surrendered the Church’s sacred books.

He chose instead fidelity.

Like David,
he trusted God rather than power.
Like Jesus,
he accepted misunderstanding and suffering
rather than abandoning his mission.

The question these readings place before us
is simple,
but uncomfortable:

Where does our loyalty lie
when faith becomes costly?

We may not face physical persecution.
But we know what it is like
to be misunderstood for living the Gospel —
for forgiving when others expect resentment,
for standing with the vulnerable,
for choosing integrity over advantage.

St Vincent reminds us
that holiness is not about comfort
but courage.

David shows us
that trust in God
is stronger than fear.

Jesus reveals
that doing the will of God
defines who we truly are.

May we ask today for the grace
to remain faithful —
not only when faith is praised,
but especially
in our day, when it is questioned.