8th August, 2017
Feast of St Dominic, Priest and Founder of the Order of Preachers
I Cor 2, 1-10; Lk 9, 57-62
Jesus reminds this reality to these three men in today's Gospel. It is interesting to note that the first and the third man approach Jesus out of their own initiative and ask him to become his followers. The second one on the other hand, is asked by Jesus himself to become a follower of his. In any case, the reply of Jesus is a demanding one. He does not beat around the bush. Following Jesus is serious business and demands of us commitment which takes precedence over everything else in our life.
Jesus reminds the first man that there is no resting place but one: that one in heaven. This is what must give orientation to whatever we do. The second man, who asks to go home to bury his father, is urged by Jesus to let go of the past and avoid being determined by it. Instead, he must look ahead and contribute to the realisation of the kingdom of God. What Jesus tells the third man reminds us of the story that we read in the book of Kings (I Kg 19, 19-21), where Elijah is looking for someone to succeed him. Finally he finds a young man, Elisha, ploughing the fields. Elisha accepts Elijah's invitation immediately, breaks the plough, kills the oxen and cooks the oxen on the burning pieces of the plough and feeds the people. How is that for making a definite decision for God with one's life?
We are expected to make similar radical decisions as disciples of Jesus especially in our relationships with others. The biographer of St Dominic says that during the day St Dominic was the liveliest and most person to be with in the community but at night he used to be quiet and alone, lost in contemplation with God. He also says that when St Dominic spoke, he either spoke about God or with God.
Back at the Seminary we used to be told, you will meet many people but not everyone would have the opportunity to read the Gospel. Therefore study the Gospel well, and live it rigorously so that people will be able to read it in you.
St Paul in his first reading says, if I have had any positive effect on you then it is not because of my ability to preach but because I have tried to show you Christ, and Christ crucified through my life. We know that there is no Crucified Christ without the Risen Christ. But our embracing of the cross is necessary for us to move on to the resurrection in Christ. And this we must live in every little cross that we stumble upon in our daily lives.
This is our particular calling as disciples, to unite ourselves with Christ not only with good deeds and holy desires but in concrete ways by accepting the cross of discipleship while looking forward in hope of the resurrection.
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