Thursday of the
Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
(I Kings 2:1-4.10-12; Mark 6:7-13)
St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers as a response to a
missionary necessity. Many people,
especially in southern France, were attracted to Catharism, a religion that taught
the dualism of matter and spirit. What
is spiritual, the Catharists believed, is good and what is material is evil. Food, drink, even sex between married
partners were to be avoided. Truth and
goodness were to be embraced. For idealistic
people this kind of reform will have some appeal.
Monks galloping on horses from well-endowed estates had little success
in checking the Catharist distortion. Their
near betrayal of poverty seemed only to confirm what the dualists were
teaching. Dominic dreamed of a different
tact. He would form a group of men who
would beg for the food they ate and go on foot – two by two -- to preach the truth
to the people. Actually much of
Dominic’s program is based on today’s gospel.
Jesus sends his disciples out with the same scarcity of physical
resources – “no food, no sack, no money in their belts.” However, they go forth with spiritual power
to cast out demons and to cure the sick.
They return, as shall be read in Saturday’s mass, with astounding
success.
These stories should challenge us to re-examine our lives. We should ask if our possessions might not give
a counter-message concerning what we treasure most. More than that, the stories should move us to
seek spiritual values. Truth, beauty,
and goodness should take precedence over material goods and to in our
lives. Finally, we should especially
prize telling others about God’s love.
