Saint Dominic, Pray for Us

Readings: 1^st: Hab 1:12–2, 4; Ps 9:8-9. 10-11. 12-13; Gos: 17:14-20

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp. He is a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico, the island of enchantment. He is the Chancellor of the Dioceses of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico; the Parish Priest of Parroquia la Resurrección del Senor, Canovanas and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. For more details and comments contact him at:  canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Today, the Saturday of the eighteenth week of ordinary time, the Church honors Saint Dominic, Priest.

Dominic was born in 1170 in Spain. After his arts and theological studies, he became a canon at Osma. Later, he founded the religious Order of the Preachers, well known as the Dominicans.

He was among those who defended the church against the Albigensian heresy, which says that all matter is evil. Consequently, this heresy denied the Incarnation and the Sacraments.

The spread of the Holy Rosary is greatly attributed to Saint Dominic, who is also the Patron saint of Dominican Republic, whose capital, “Santo Domingo” was named after him. Dominic died at Bologna on August 6, 1221 and was canonized by Pope Gregory IX, in 1224.

In today’s gospel, Christ rebuked his disciples because, they could not heal a little boy that was brought to them.

The reason was obvious from Christ’s rebuke. This rebuke equally showed that he was not happy with his disciples: “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?”

It is important to note that, the problem is not that the disciples did not have faith at all. Of course, they have left everything to follow him. Christ told them: “Because of your little faith.”

Their faith was smaller than the mustard seed, one of the smallest seeds in the world. It was not up to standard. It was still weak, vacillating, and still dominated by mistrust and doubt.

The simple message for us in today’s gospel is that, we need a true and strong faith. This must provoke a question or reflection in us. After many years with Christ, how strong is my faith in him?

So, we must humbly ask Christ every day: “Lord, increase our faith” (Lk 17:5). Indeed, we need that faith that will enable us say to the obstacles in our life, I can overcome you in the name of Jesus Christ.

We need that faith that can enable us say to that weakness, inactivity and lameness in our life: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise and walk! (Acts 3:6). This will certainly make Christ proud of us.

Saint Dominic, Pray for Us

Peace be with you.

Maranatha!