Word to the Wise
Wednesday, November 7, 2012 - Wednesday in the 31th Week in Ordinary Time
[Phil 2:12-18 and Luke 14:25-33]For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation...[Philippians]
In Dominican locations around the world today, we celebrate our own "All Saints" day - the feast of All Dominican Saints! [Yesterday, Nov. 6, I forgot to mention the Dominican Martyrs of Japan, but they get included today!] When I reported to the novitiate back in 1964, I noticed that the stained glass windows in the chapel all featured the prominent Dominican saints: Sts. Dominic, Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Louis Bertrand, Rose of Lima, Catherine of Siena, Vincent Ferre [Martin De Porres was not canonized till 1962 - too late to make it in those 1949 windows]. I was surrounded by reminders that some extraordinary people had embraced and successfully lived the way of life that I was approaching with fear and trembling! Although I have been a rather itinerant Dominican, I cannot say that I had to move from place to place on foot, like St. Dominic and St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Catherine of Siena! Yet, on November 1st recently I visited our Dominican cemetery in Houston and I saw the gravestones of Dominicans whom I knew personally and can testify to their good example and holiness.
I swiftly learned in religious life that even the best of us do "grumble and question" at times! St. Paul sets a high standard in today's first scripture. We don't always shine like lights! But we can at least glow a bit so that others may find their way through the various challenges we all face. Today I invite my Beloved Congregation to join me in celebrating the many Dominican men and women whose lives have inspired and touched the People of God. Bl. Pope John Paul II added a large amount to the number, so I can't remember them all any more, but I'm glad they did so well and inspire me to do a better job, too! AMEN