A Gospel Reflection for August 7, 2014
Matthew 16: 13-23
An art by Augusta Curelli
“
‘But you, who so you say that I am?’ Peter answered,
‘You
are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.’ ”
-Mt. 16: 15-16
“Do not weep my children.
I shall be more use to you where I am going than I
ever did in life.”
-St. Dominic de Guzman
These
were the words of our Holy Father Dominic before he laid to rest. He was
majestic, brilliant, joyful and humble even to his last breath. But who is
really St. Dominic in our lives today as preachers of the Word of God?
I
can remember the days when my batch mates and I were still aspirants and we had
this subject “Saint Dominic and His Times” by Marie-Humbert Vicaire. It was a
thick book composed of more than 20 chapters and you barely see photos between
the pages. We consider it as the most effective “sleeping pill” of all time. It
is a must for us to read it chapter-by-chapter or else we won’t be able to
answer our professor’s quizzes. It may just be an elective course but it has
been a blessing because I was able to know our founder better.
Saint
Dominic is a man of great virtue and zeal to the Gospel. His missionary spirit lifted
up the self-esteem of the brothers of the Order of Preachers as he inspired
them in his way of life even to this day. We can relate Saint Dominic to St.
Peter whom Christ had chosen to be the “Rock” from where He will build His
Church (Mt 13:18). Saint Dominic was born at the time when the Church was
coming near to its great fall because of the Albigensian heresy spreading all
over Europe. It was a very big challenge for him to enlighten people who seem
to be closing their minds to the Truth. But his preaching was a very big gift
to the Church because as St. Peter who became the “Rock”, Saint Dominic who saw
the Church being divided came as the “Rebuilder”.
“Whatever
you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and whatever you unbind on earth
shall be unbound in Heaven.” (Mt 13: 19) would not only speak about the sinners
who do not repent or reconcile with God but would also speak about the Truth
which we must unravel or proclaim instead of being hidden or being bounded.
During the vocation promotions or recruitment of brothers aspiring to enter as
Dominicans, they would be told about the Four Pillars of Dominican Life namely:
Prayer, Study, Community and Apostolate. All these four are interrelated to one
another. Taking one away would distort our understanding of the Truth that we
are here in the Dominican Order praying together as one community composed of
brothers who journey with us in our apostolic missions by yearning, studying,
discovering the Truth for the salvation of the souls of God’s people. [All
rights reserved! I’m proud that the Holy Spirit is guiding me proclaim. Thank
you, Father Dominic for your prayers!]
There
are interesting stories about Saint Dominic. First, is his journey to different
countries on foot to the point that he would even travel barefooted with
calloused and wounded sole. And funny to know that considering that not wearing
his shoes is his own penance, he would cry because he has to wear the pair
during rainy seasons. His prayers are very much appreciated for the salvation
of souls. He did not consider this as “an obstacle in his path” (Mt 13: 23)
because he gave himself up to the will of God. We are also invited to give
ourselves up to God’s will. Yes, it is easier said than done but God never
forgets His promise that He told us “not to be afraid, for I, myself, will be
with you.” Second, is selling his books for the victims of war in which case
his companions in the monastery reprimanded him. But then he replied that he
“cannot study on dead skins while living skins are dying.” As Dominicans, we
are not required to do the same because we need the books for our studies for
preaching but there is a clear message in this act of kindness which Saint
Dominic showed to those people. He wanted his sons and daughters in the Order
to treat their studies as leisure and mortification. That we study not for our
own benefit but for the benefit of others. And last but not the least, is the
conversion of the Cathar Perfect, a heretic, whom he engaged with in a
whole-night debate. We, as preachers, are not expected to be able to win souls
for the Catholic Church but to be able to win souls for the One True God. Saint
Dominic, who was fasting and tired, did not give up on that man. So we must
also never back out if by chance we won’t be able to “make the lame walk, the
blind see or the deaf hear” (Mt 11: 5). Keep on persevering and love this
vocation as instruments of the Gospel.
Domini
Canes – The Dogs of the Lord. Indeed, that is our duty as Dominicans. Because
the Shepherd must be accompanied by his dogs in leading the flock. We are God’s
companions and heralds. Our Holy Father Dominic did so to bring the people out
of darkness and with that he is known today as the “Light of the Church” and he
did not betray us with his promise that he will be more use to us in Heaven
than he ever did in this life.
Kapatid,
who do people say you are? You are a “Dog of the Lord”. Let us journey together
as Dominicans and go by the motto VERITAS!
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