Br. Joseph Trout, OP

Today we celebrate the Feast of our Holy Father Dominic, the joyful and sociable friar who was always talking about God or with God. One might think that a man of constant prayer might not be so sociable, but for Dominic, God was at his side in everything he did, and this brought joy into every encounter he has with others. You and I could also live our days in the presence of Christ, and so infuse everything we do with divine and holy joy. Try it today!

In today's Gospel, Peter saying to Jesus, "God forbid that you should suffer" earns him a harsh rebuke, that he is thinking as human beings do, not as God does. It is difficult for us to see the people we love suffer and trust that God is at work in the midst of this suffering, and has already prepared a resurrection to redeem it. So today, try to put on the mind of God when accompanying people who suffer, trusting that God indeed has a plan to save this person.

In the Old Testament story of Joseph, son of Jacob, he is faithful to God no matter what. But when famine hits the land there is only so much he can do to help people. Like Joseph, Jesus is faithful to God no matter what, but Jesus is able to multiple loaves and fish when people are hungry, or turn bread into his body for us when we are in need. Let us trust Jesus who is not only faithful, but able to give us what we need, and even more than we hope for.

In today's Gospel, Jesus sees the needs of the world and is not discouraged or overwhelmed. Jesus responds by noting to his disciples that the great needs bode a great harvest if they would be willing to be sent into the vineyard. You and I are not simply called to be God's friends, but to be the rightful inheritors of God's work in saving the world. The only question is will we join in?

In proclaiming Mary as the Mother of the Church, we acknowledge that the Church is her son, Jesus, and all of us who are part of the church, are part of the Body of Christ and have God dwelling in us.
So we do not have to go looking for God, we can find God dwelling within ourselves.

In building the Tower of Babel, people were trying to wall themselves off from others and impose unity through force. That kind of unity never works and in the end always falls apart. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit united people by dwelling inside them, thus uniting each to God. This unity lasts unto eternity, and it also sends us out right now to encounter others rather than walling us off from them.