July 15, 2012
- Category: brdaniel
- Published Date
- Written by Br. Daniel Thomas, OP
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Fifteenth Sunday in the Church year.
Saint for the day: St. Bonaventure (1221-1274)
Scripture readings for today's liturgy:
Amos 7:12-15
Psalm 85
Ephesians 1: … 14
Mark 6:7-13
We just heard this same story last Thursday. But from Matthew’s viewpoint. And it’s just happenstance that we hear almost the same “gospel” again today from Mark. So, it must be under the spirit’s guidance, and it must be important for us to take yet another look at what it means to be an “apostle” (one who is “sent”) and why we need to travel lite.
I’m just getting “back home” from my travels in the US and these Gospel words hit me square in the face since I went and came with two suitcases filled to the max along with my carry-on and my shoulder bag which contained my lap-top along with a brand new one for one of the friars!
Yet I still see myself as an “apostle” and most of the “stuff” that I took with me - and the “stuff” that I brought back - was passed on to others. I can honestly say that I take the scripture passage, “The gift you have received – give as a gift!” to heart and I hope that people were blessed by my actions.
Still, all of us need to be reminded of the story of Job who lost all of his worldly possessions and was told by the devil to “curse God and move on!” But Job’s response which is true for all of us, “Naked came I from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return.”
Again, it’s not the number of possessions that we have but how many possessions have possession of us.
St. Paul tells us that we must not be a burden to the people to whom we preach. He also says that those who do not – or will not – work should be left out of the community.
I work very hard at putting together these daily reflections. I could not do this without a computer and access to the WWW. In many ways I am able to reach more people via this method than I would ever be able to reach in person. It is my hope that my words give some encouragement to those who read them.
When I was first asked, as a young Dominican, to be the “porter” at the House of Studies I took it as a special ministry: I would not use the buzzer on the front door, but rather went and opened it to great whoever was there as if they were Jesus, Himself. I've come a long way in my 50+ years as a Dominican and it is my hope that what my Dominican brothers used to jokingly say, “Daniel came into the Order to do good. And he’s done very well!” really means, each of us is “sent” to carry the message of Jesus and to do good. May we all hear God saying to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Kingdom.”
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Daily Reflections