Eastern Africa Dominican Friars

Saturday in the Second week of the Church year. 

Saint for the day: Sts. Timothy & Titus (1st Century)

Scripture readings for today liturgy:

2 Timothy 1:1-8 (or) Titus 1:1-5

Psalm 96

Mark 3:20-21

“For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” (2 Timothy 1:4-5)

This quote above from the first reading for today’s liturgy shows us something important regarding our following of Jesus. Yes, any encounter with Jesus causes us to exclaim – like the disciples on the road to Emmaus – “…were not our hearts burning within as He spoke to us?” (Luke 24:13)

Yet we cannot just continue our journey without “fanning into flame” the gift that we have been given. In the early days, when the Church was in its infancy, it was only able to grow so remarkably because those early Christians took seriously their call and commitment. This reminds me of G.K. Chesterton’s statement: “It’s not that Christianity has been tried and failed; but, rather, that it hasn’t really been tried sincerely.”

Our accepting the call to follow Jesus is never just a matter of “signing up” to be a disciple. We must also go out – out of our comfort zones and out of the security of controlling our lives. A “spark” of God’s power has been planted in our hearts and it must be fanned into flame in order for us to be full, committed followers of Jesus.

Maybe all of us need to reflect back on that time when we first made a decision to follow the Lord more closely and see how our life has changed. I’m sure that most of us will see some remarkable things that we have been able to do – or survive - mainly because of our allowing God’s “spark of life” to be planted in our hearts. If you can’t see it … better get out those old billows and start pumping away!

Kind of corny … but there it is. Amen!

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Friday in the 2nd Week of the Church year 

Feast for today: Conversion of St. Paul

Scripture readings for today's liturgy:

Acts 22:3-16 (or) Acts 9:1-22

Psalm 117

Mark 16:15-18

Before we get into today’s reflection take a moment to think about all the references to “light” in the scriptures. Right from the very beginning in Genesis it is “light” that is the first gesture of creation. From there – and all throughout the Gospels it is “light” that figures in so many of Jesus’ prouncements. “I am the Light of the World!”

In the olden days, back in the time when I first entered the Dominicans as a lay brother the technical name given us was, “conversi” since many who sought entrance into the Dominicans as brothers and not as priests were thought to have been “converted” from a previous life of less-than-noble ways. In fact, the feast day for these brothers was today’s feast, the Conversion of St. Paul. Even though that way of thinking has some demeaning connotations it was a reminder to all of us of our personal need for “conversion.”

In the early 60’s, when Martin de Porres was declared a saint those now called co-operator brothers celebrated their feast day on November 3^rd.

I think that there’s a lesson to be seen in all of these facets of the feast that we celebrate today.   In the first place all of us need to experience some kind of “conversion.” If we say that “we have not sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God we are making God a liar. So “conversion” is a basic starting point for all of us.

In the life of St. Martin de Porres we can see almost the opposite happening: he came to the Order as an out-cast; a person of ‘mixed race’ and was assigned to the lowest of the low duties. Yet it was in this realm that his light really shinned. He is renowned for his miraculous signs in all his dealings with the poor to whom he had a special calling. In many ways his very life called others to their own conversion as they saw him carrying out the “mission of Christ” to have special concern for the poor and outcasts of society in healing them and bringing them to a full life in Christ.

In my recent trip to Peru I saw first-hand how the legacy of St.  Martin de Porres is still very much alive in the people of Lima, Peru. A good lesson and reminder to all of us seeking ways to follow Jesus more perfectly. When you have consideration for the lowest of the low there isn’t always need to be knocked to the ground! Something to think about. Amen!

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Thursday in the Second week of the Church year.

Saint for the day: St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

Scripture readings for today's liturgy:

Hebrews 7:25-8:6

Psalm 40

Mark 3:7-12

“Sacrifice or oblation you wished not, but ears opened to obedience you gave me. Burnt offerings or sin offerings you sought not; then I said, “Behold, I come.” (Psalm 40)

 Today, I’m up at my regular time – a little before 4 am – but we haven’t had power since Monday evening! And this morning my trusty computer is on its last legs regarding battery operation! So, I’ve had to put off my posting of this reflection until the power comes back on.

That puts me back to writing it by hand! And I find that I am so spoiled by having such ready access to my computer that it is difficult for me to keep my focus. How could I forget those days when I was hand-setting type in the basement print shop at the House of Studies in Oakland?

There must be a lesson here for me to learn. One of my favorite Psalms – Psalm 27 which I had printed on my Vow Card reminds me of what I first committed myself to:  “One think I ask of the Lord, one thing I seek: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to enjoy the sweetness of the Lord and to consult him in his Temple.”

 When ‘Martha, Martha’ cried out to Jesus He said, “Mary has chosen the better part (sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening) and it shall not be taken from her. (Luke 10:41-42)

 In today’s Gospel the crowds are so large – people wanting to “hear” Jesus – that He got into a boat to keep them from crushing him. I have to ask myself, “What is most important to me? How many people throughout the world don’t have anywhere near the luxuries that I take for granted? And here I am “crying” ‘cause I had to make my coffee by hand and heat my milk on the gas burner!

“Only one thing is necessary…” and I’m reminded, once again, to not take for granted some of the luxuries that are readily at my disposal. How many of us need to be reminded of this same fact? Something to think about especially when one of those “perks” is taken away.

 Of course, that’s easy for me to say now that I’m back “on line” and sipping my piping hot coffee (thank you micro-wave oven) with all my “aids” working they way I like it! Amen!

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Wednesday in the Second week of the Church year. 

Saint for the day: St. Marianne Cope (1838-1918)

Scripture readings for today's liturgy:

Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17

Psalm 110

Mark 3:1-6

Early on in this 2^nd week of the Church year the credentials of Jesus are being stated: He is compared to the Old Testament figure of Melchizedek – the King of Salem who is without father mother or ancestry. We also get the first hint that the Pharisees are so upset by him that they “immediately took counsel with the Herodians against Him to put Him to death.” (the ending of today’s Gospel)

So we given the hint that the S& Ps are so worried that this new preacher is upsetting their apple cart that they are already looking for ways to hand him over to the Roman authorities and to death.

We also are given another reminder about having “hardened hearts” which blinds us from living out the Great Commandment: “love God with your whole heart and your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus, with his caring heart, sees that sickness or infirmities limit a person’s ability to be a full participant in Synagogue worship and free the man with the withered hand. All the S & Ps can see is that He broke a Sabbath Law. Laws are always a means to an end. Not an end in themselves. Hardness of heart and legalism seem to go hand in hand and Jesus will always seek to do good – even on the Sabbath.

We don’t need to look very far from home to see that hardness of heart (in one way or another) and legalism have done little to relieve the pain and suffering in our world. Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel cut to the quick: “Is lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” And the sad fact – also here in these verses – “But they remained silent!”

We cannot let a hardness of heart trap us into being silent when confronted with atrocities happening all around us. A serious Gospel indeed!

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I’d like to hear from you to know that you’re getting these reflections. Use the link below to go to my” home page” where you’ll find more stories and pictures along with a link to e-mail me: