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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