Memorial of Saint
Dominic, priest
(Jeremiah 31:1-7; Matthew 15:21-28)
Most effective people set limits on their work. Without limits they may find themselves dispersed
and their projects come to nothing. A
therapist writes of the limit he imposed on a sibling who was draining him
emotionally and financially. He had to focus
his attention on their mother with Alzheimer’s, his own family, and his
clients. In today’s gospel Jesus tries
to set a limit with a pagan woman who asks him to help her daughter.
At first Jesus politely tells the woman that he cannot meet
her need. He says that his mission is
among the Jewish people. But the woman refuses
to accept his reason. Then Jesus attempts
brushing off her request with barbed humor.
The woman, however, throws the remark back at him. Jesus, whose love for people knows no bounds,
finally gives in and grants her needs.
Today the Church remembers St. Dominic Guzman, the
founder of the Order of Preachers. Like
Jesus, he set limits but was willing to transgress them. Dominic was a man imminently disposed to do
the will of his colleagues. That was a
self-imposed limit. But there is one
recorded incident when he seemingly acted unilaterally although, no doubt,
under the Lord’s direction. In August of
2017 the group of men Dominic gathered together was living with him in southern
France. Dominic decided to send them out
two-by-two to different cities in Europe.
Some objected that it was not yet time to begin the apostolate. Dominic
only replied that he knew what he was doing.
The bold action has resulted in significant accomplishments both for the
Church and western civilization.
