Word to the Wise
Sunday, February 4, 2024 - 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[Job 7:1-4, 6-7; 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39]If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.....Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all to save at least some. [1 Corinthians]
When St. Dominic, early in the 13th century, went on a diplomatic mission as the companion to his bishop, Diego of Osma, they encountered a heresy in Southern France that had gained popularity. The heretics were known as the Albigensians, from an area in France (Albi). The official preachers sent by Rome to counter the heresy were bishops and abbots who traveled in great state and were having no impact. The Albigensian preachers went about in poor state, like most of the people whom they preached to, and were gaining converts. Dominic and Diego came up with the idea of founding a religious order dedicated to sound preaching, which was given the official title of the Order of Preachers [O.P. after our names], by Pope Honorius III. The nickname is "Dominicans." The brothers were to beg for their living to support their preaching. They were to become "mendicants," from the Latin word mendicare, meaning "to beg."
I joined the Dominican order in 1964, right out of college. During my time of formation, I was continually reminded that my education was being paid for by the nickels and dimes of people who donated to the Shrine of St. Jude at our parish in Chicago. Since, as student brothers, we were not employed in any official capacity, we had to rely on the generosity of people who heard our preaching. I am still very much aware of that generosity as I see our young brothers preparing for what I have done since my ordination in 1971. I send this reflection every morning because, like St. Paul, I feel that I have been called to do this, and woe to me if I don't do it - whether by internet or by pulpit. And my life outside of that task has to preach as well.
At this time of year, the particular regional part of the Order that I belong to - the Southern Dominican Province - reaches out to friends and benefactors to beg for help in educating our young brothers and taking care of our elderly and infirm brothers - a category in which I increasingly find myself at almost 81 years of age. We call this the "1216 Campaign" from the year the Order was founded. You can send a donation made out to SOUTHERN DOMINICAN PROVINCE c/o P.O. Box 8129, New Orleans, LA 70182. If you can remember to do so, indicate the 1216 Campaign - Fr. RB on the little line because the office will inform me and I can send a personal "THANK YOU" note. You can also go to <www.opsouth.org/giving> to donate online.
One of the early nicknames of the Order was "the Holy Preaching." You can help us continue that mission just as St. Paul depended on his listeners to support him. AMEN