FOR PEACE TO REIGN. (Homily for August 8, 2016. Monday of the 19th week in Ordinary Time.)


Bible Study: Ezekiel 1, 2 to 5 and 24 to 28. Matthew 17, 22 to 27.


One way to define the term “war” is this: what happens when two people believe they are both right and each insists the other party is wrong. So long as no side agrees to shift ground, a fight is sure to continue. From the small domestic battles, to arguments over football, from to disagreements about who is to blame, to large fights between people and even nations, the basic cause of all wars is refusal on our part to admit we are not free from error and allow peace reign.

Was Jesus supposed to pay tax? That he was even asked to pay at all is an insult to his personality because here is God being asked to pay tax as if he was a man like everyone else. More still, Jesus did not have a trade or any source of income. At this time, he was no longer working with Joseph in the carpentry workshop. He was simply going around preaching about the kingdom of God. Jesus was living in a state of poverty and yet he was asked to pay tax.

The surprising thing is that Jesus did not allow the issue of tax piss him off. He knew he was not supposed to pay tax but still yet, he said to Peter: “However, not to give offence to them, go to the sea, catch a fish and you will find a coin in its mouth, go and give it to them.” Jesus did not want to give offence. He was willing to shift ground. He was not going to insist on his rights. He paid the tax for peace to reign.

There is an extent that our pursuit of justice becomes a vice. Sometimes, it is best to shift ground. What will it profit you if you fight with the whole world just to prove you are right? Why create unnecessary enemies for yourself? Imitate Jesus and allow peace to reign. No need to give offence.

Today we celebrate the life of Saint Dominic, an outstanding preacher. Born in old Castile, Spain, he was trained for the priesthood by a priest-uncle, studied the arts and theology, and became a canon of the cathedral at Osma. On a journey through France with his bishop, he came face to face with the then virulent Albigensian heresy. The Albigensians (Cathari, “the pure”) held to two principles—one good, one evil—in the world. All matter is evil—hence they denied the Incarnation and sacraments. On the same principle, they abstained from procreation and took a minimum of food and drink. The inner circle led what some people regarded as a heroic life of purity and asceticism not shared by ordinary followers.

Dominic sensed the need for the Church to combat this heresy, and was commissioned to be part of the preaching crusade against it. He saw immediately why the preaching was not succeeding: the ordinary people admired and followed the ascetical heroes of the Albigenses. Understandably, they were not impressed by the Catholic preachers who traveled with horse and retinues, stayed at the best inns and had servants. Dominic therefore, with three Cistercians, began itinerant preaching according to the gospel ideal. He continued this work for 10 years, being successful with the ordinary people but not with the leaders.

His fellow preachers gradually became a community, and in 1215 he founded a religious house at Toulouse, the beginning of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). He is the patron saint of Astronomers as well as the Dominican Republic.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, may my life always proclaim the truth. Amen.


Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.

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