SATURDAY 8TH AUGUST 2020
MEMORIAL OF ST. DOMINIC
Habakkuk 1:12-2:4, Matthew 17:14-20
LITTLE FAITH CAN DO WONDERS
St Dominic had joined the Augustinian Frair in the 12th century during a turbulent time in the history of the church because of a heretical group called the Albigensians. He had accompanied his bishop on a mission to France to preach against this false teachings of the group that taught that there is constant war between body and spirit, therefore the human body is evil and thus there is no incarnation because the son of God could not have dwelt in human body. They also denied the sacraments and other teachings of the church. During his encounter with them, St Dominic discovered that the best way to combat them and those they had already deceived was to preach the word of God. He therefore formed the order of preachers with their aim to preach the good news. This group is what we know today as the Dominicans or order of preachers.
According to St Dominic, many people argue about the word of God because they do not know. If enlightened, they may come to understand. Also, we see a conflict in the interpretation of the word of God among some religious leaders today. The word of God needs to be studied seriously before one can preach, not a 6-months or 1 year course.
One may wonder how St Dominic conceive the idea and was able to carry it out. It is obviously by faith. God needs us to start something good with the little faith we have like a mustard seed as we see in the gospel reading of today, and he will make it to blossom. The little faith of St Dominic in the 13th century converted over one hundred thousand Albigensians and gave birth to the countless Dominican priests and Nuns we have in the world today. May almighty God give us the grace to start up something with our little faith. God help us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
No comments:
Post a Comment